Rüdiger/DFB take legal action against journalist over Ramadan gesture

DPA
·2 min read
Germany's Antonio Ruediger lines up before the the International friendly soccer match between France and Germany at Groupama Stadium. Ruediger and the German Football Federation (DFB) have filed a criminal complaint against a journalist who made critical remarks online in reference to a post from Rüdiger at the start of the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan. Christian Charisius/dpa
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National team defender Antonio Rüdiger and the German Football Federation (DFB) have taken legal action against a journalist who made critical remarks online in reference to a post from Rüdiger at the start of the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan.

Rüdiger, a practising Muslim, posted a photo of himself in a white robe on a prayer mat on March 11 on Instagram, with his right index finger pointing up, and the caption "May the almighty accept our fasting and prayers."

Julian Reichelt, the former editor in chief of the Bild daily who now works for the Nius portal, said on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday that the raised index finger was a Islamist gesture.

That prompted Rüdiger and the DFB to take action on Monday, both parties confirmed to dpa.

Rüdiger filed a criminal complaint to the Berlin prosecutors office and the DFB reported the case to the Central Unit for the Suppression of Internet Crime (ZIT) in Frankfurt.

The complaint seen by dpa relates to insult/defamation, inciting offence and incitement to hatred.

Rüdiger, who was set to play for Germany in a friendly against the Netherlands in Frankfurt later Tuesday, did not want to comment.

Reichelt maintained his view in another X post late on Monday and insisted: "Even and especially because it is about a popular national player you can't allow yourself to be intimidated ... What Antonio Rüdiger and the DFB are using here are methods of intimidation."

Germany's interior ministry said on Tuesday that "in Islam, the so-called 'tauhid' finger symbolises the unity and uniqueness of God. The gesture is widespread among Muslims all over the world.

It said Rüdiger's gesture "is to be understood as a profession of faith and can therefore be categorised as unproblematic in terms of public safety.

"This applies regardless of the fact that Islamist groups are appropriating this symbol and misusing it for their own purposes."

The ministry added that raising the finger could be seen as a sign of Salafist or Islamist radicalisation in certain contexts, if actors deliberately make use of this ambiguity.

"It depends on the individual case," the ministry said.