Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, recent gold medal winner at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has filed a complaint with French authorities against JK Rowling and Elon Musk, accusing them of “acts of aggravated cyberbullying.” This lawsuit adds to a series of allegations that have arisen around the controversy over Khelif’s gender eligibility to compete in the women’s boxing category.
The lawsuit against JK Rowling and Elon Musk
Nabil Boudi, a Paris-based lawyer for Khelif, confirmed (via Variety) that both Rowling and Musk were named in the complaint, which was filed with the Paris public prosecutor’s office, which specializes in combating online hate. The suit was filed against “unknown persons,” allowing authorities to investigate all those involved, including those who posted hateful messages under pseudonyms.
Controversy erupted during the Olympics when Khelif was subjected to unfounded accusations about her gender, despite being born a woman and not identifying as transgender or intersex. Throughout the competition, the boxer was the victim of a disinformation campaign suggesting she was a man competing in the women’s category. Among those responsible for amplifying this erroneous narrative are public figures such as JK Rowling and Elon Musk.
Rowling, known for her controversial comments on gender issues, posted an image of the match between Khelif and Italy’s Angela Carini, suggesting that Khelif was a man who enjoyed his opponent’s anguish. Musk backed a comment by swimmer Riley Gaines, who claimed that “men do not belong in women’s sports,” writing “absolutely” on his social network X (formerly Twitter). Donald Trump also joined in the controversy, posting a message in which he promised to keep men out of women’s sports, accompanied by a photo of the match between Khelif and Carini.
The impact of cyberbullying
Online bullying had a profound effect on Khelif during her participation in the Games, as confirmed by her coach Pedro Diaz, who said the situation “incredibly affected” both the boxer and those around her. However, Khelif managed to stay focused on her goal and eventually took home the gold medal in the 66-kilogram category, becoming the first Algerian woman to achieve this feat.
The lawsuit filed in France not only seeks to hold public figures like Rowling and Musk accountable, but also anyone involved in spreading hate speech. Although the complaint was filed in France, Khelif’s lawyer noted that it could have international repercussions, as there are legal cooperation agreements between France and the United States to combat online hate speech.
This case highlights the growing importance that judicial authorities are placing on cyberbullying, and how public figures can be brought to justice for their role in spreading disinformation and harassment online.
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