Imane Khelif files legal complaint over online harassment
August 13, 2024Following her gold medal victory, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has filed a legal complaint in France in response to a surge of online harassment fuelled by false claims alleging she is trans, ‘LGBTQ Nation’ reports.
The complaint was submitted on Friday to a special unit within the Paris prosecutor’s office dedicated to addressing online hate speech. Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, described the harassment as “aggravated cyber-harassment” and characterised it as “a misogynist, racist, and sexist campaign” in a statement.
Despite being a cisgender woman, Khelif has been targeted by anti-trans individuals, including notable figures like Elon Musk, JK Rowling, and former president Donald Trump, who have falsely claimed she is secretly a man or trans. These claims are unfounded.
The statement said, “After the sporting time, comes the legal time. Having just won a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, boxer Imane Khelif has decided to lead a new fight: that of justice, dignity, and honor. Ms. Khelif contacted the firm which filed a complaint yesterday for acts of cyber harassment aggravated by the anti-online hatred center of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office.”
Image Credit: Canva
It further stated, “The criminal investigation will determine who initiated this misogynistic, racist, and sexist campaign, but will also have to focus on those who fueled this digital lynching. The unfair harassment suffered by the boxing champion will remain the biggest stain of these Olympic Games.”
Khelif was already receiving online abuse after reportedly failing a gender test and being disqualified from the women’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA), along with Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) no longer recognises the IBA, criticises their gender tests as irretrievably flawed, and has supported both boxers since the Paris games began. Both athletes met the IOC’s own eligibility requirements for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Experts note that women from the Global South often face intense scrutiny about their gender, and these accusations are deeply rooted in racism.
Under French law, it is now up to prosecutors to decide on launching an investigation and determining who should be held accountable.
Khelif carried the Algerian flag during the closing ceremony after winning gold in the women’s welterweight competition against China’s Yang Liu. The two athletes smiled and held hands post-match, contrasting with other athletes who have shown hostility towards Khelif.
Regarding her victory and the gender controversy, Khelif stated, “I was born a girl, I grew up a girl, I studied as a girl and I fought like a girl. Those who attacked me? Of course, they were enemies of glory. But, without them, my victory would not have been so satisfying.”
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