BTN News: French authorities have launched an investigation following a complaint of aggravated cyber-harassment filed by Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who recently won a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Khelif, who has become the center of a heated gender controversy, claims to be the victim of a targeted online harassment campaign. This investigation, which started on Tuesday, is being led by the national French service responsible for combating online hate, as confirmed by the Paris prosecutor’s office.
The inquiry is focused on “cyber-harassment due to gender, public insult due to gender, public incitement to discrimination, and public insult due to origin,” according to statements made by the prosecutor’s office to AFP. The investigation has been handed over to the Central Office for Combatting Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crimes, emphasizing the severity of the allegations.
Imane Khelif, who won gold in the welterweight category (-66 kg) on Friday at Roland Garros, has vowed to fight not just in the ring but also in the courtroom. Her attorney, Nabil Boudi, made a public statement on Saturday, declaring that Khelif has taken on a new battle: the fight for justice, dignity, and honor. He announced that the complaint was filed on the previous day and that the prosecutor’s office acknowledged receiving the complaint on Monday.
According to Boudi, the criminal investigation will not only identify those responsible for orchestrating this misogynistic, racist, and sexist campaign but will also target those who have perpetuated this digital lynching. The attorney highlighted that the harassment endured by Khelif represents one of the darkest moments of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Interestingly, the American magazine Variety reported that billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), and British author J.K. Rowling, famed for her Harry Potter series, are named in the complaint filed with French authorities. This inclusion suggests the far-reaching implications of the harassment, extending beyond France’s borders.
In a controversial post, Rowling questioned whether Khelif was “a man enjoying the distress of a woman whom he has just hit on the head,” attaching a photo of Khelif’s match against Italian boxer Angela Carini. Musk also weighed in on the matter, sharing an image of swimmer Riley Gaines with the caption: “Men don’t belong in women’s sports,” and adding the phrase, “Absolutely!”
The controversy surrounding Khelif has deepened, as she has been embroiled in a gender dispute fueled by conservative circles. The issue initially arose last year when Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting were disqualified from the Women’s World Championships in New Delhi in March 2023, with the International Boxing Association (IBA) claiming that Khelif failed a test intended to determine her gender. However, the IBA has not disclosed the specific nature of the test conducted. In contrast, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stood by Khelif, affirming that she is eligible to compete in the female category at the Olympic Games.
The controversy reignited in Paris when Khelif’s first-round opponent, Angela Carini, abruptly forfeited the match within the first minute. This incident further fueled the online hate campaign against Khelif, with some falsely accusing her of being “a man fighting against women.”
Khelif has endured a relentless wave of hatred and disinformation on social media, with malicious rumors and misogynistic comments flooding platforms. Despite this, Khelif remains defiant. After winning the gold medal, she told the media, “I am a strong woman with special powers. From the ring, I sent a message to those who were against me.”
As this investigation unfolds, it is clear that the controversy surrounding Imane Khelif extends far beyond the ring. The legal battle she has initiated aims to hold accountable those who have used the internet as a tool for hate, shedding light on the broader issues of cyber-harassment, gender discrimination, and the responsibility of social media platforms in curbing online abuse. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future cases of online harassment, particularly in the realm of sports.
