Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi must appear in court over rape allegations
Achraf Hakimi, defender for PSG and the Moroccan national team, must appear before a French court for rape accusations after his appeal was rejected by the Versailles court.
Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi must appear in court over rape allegations
Achraf Hakimi, defender for the Moroccan national team and Paris Saint-Germain, is now required to appear before French justice in an alleged rape case.
The case dates back to March 2023, when a 24-year-old woman filed a complaint against the footballer. The Nanterre public prosecutor's office subsequently brought charges against him. Hakimi appealed the proceedings, but the Versailles court of appeal rejected his request. The player announced on Friday that he was accepting that he would stand trial, saying he was even satisfied to finally be able to defend himself.
"Justice looked me in the eyes and told me: 'If you were not famous, there would never have been a case'" – the athlete wrote on his social media. He added that he had remained silent for years, convinced that patience and dignity would eventually pay off. Today, he feels he has become an easy target, and insists that a story is being told that does not correspond to reality. "I have been waiting for this trial since day one. Now I am waiting for it eagerly. I will finally have the opportunity to speak."
For her part, Rachel-Flore Pardo, the complainant's lawyer, indicated that her client felt relief and hope, finally feeling heard by justice. The lawyer hopes that this trial could help other women and contribute to breaking the culture of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including in the world of men's football.
The trial date has not yet been set. The case does not affect Hakimi's participation in the World Cup: he played in Morocco's opening match against Brazil and is expected to start against Scotland on Friday.
Source: 444.hu, MTI, BBC
Source: Google News HU — Crime (hu)