“?Arsenal and Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil has been criticised by German political spokesperson Frauke Petry, following the star’s Mecca pilgrimage, per “?Stern.de.
The annual ritual, also known as the Hajj, is considered mandatory for all Islamic followers who are physically and financially able to take the journey. It must be done at least once in their lifetime.
The player posted an image of himself taking part in the event on his official Facebook page, and received over two million likes. It was also met by a bit of criticism, including that of the female politician.
In an interview with German paper Welt am Sonntag, Petry said: “One could Özil ask if he wanted to make a political statement with this commitment.”
While Ozil’s religion is part of his personal life, Petry thinks that the footballer is not setting a good example for youngsters, as he does not participate in the singing of the German national anthem.
Furthermore, she does not believe that he abides by the strict rules of the Sharia (Islamic law), as his exploits with women have been well noted.
With regards to football, the midfielder had a good season with Arsenal, scoring eight goals and dishing out 19 assists. He will be representing Germany at the Euros in a few days, and could be a key player for the team, which will be looking to make another statement, having won the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
Whether or not he sings the national anthem this time around remains to be seen. But given his issues with endurance, Germans will be hoping that the attacker is well rested following his long walk.
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