Imane Khalif has filed a lawsuit against the attacks and online bullying she received after participating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she won the gold medal in the boxing discipline. After the match with Italian boxer Angela Carini, who submitted after 46 seconds, people questioned Imane's sexual identity, claiming that she is transgender.
Khelif became the new subject of the Internet, who discussed so much about her sexuality and "physical advantage". Khelif, on the other hand, gave Algeria a gold medal in boxing, thus bringing attention back to the sport. The last time Algeria won a gold medal was in 1996.
On Wednesday (July 14, 2024), her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, said that a lawsuit has been filed for "attacks on social networks". The lawsuit was filed in Paris and includes names such as Elon Musk and JK Rowling. The former CEO of X and the writer of the "Harry Potter" saga are accused of misogynistic, racist and sexist online attacks. "This guarantees that the prosecution will enjoy all the freedom to investigate against all these people, including those who have sent and written hate messages and used nicknames", said the lawyer.
The lawyer added that many people were named in the lawsuit, including Elon Musk, JK Rowling and Donald Trump. "Trump posted on X, so even if it wasn't mentioned in our lawsuit, it will inevitably be under investigation by the prosecution."
Khelif faced many accusations over an alleged gender transition, especially when it was revealed that she could not compete in the World Boxing Championships in 2023 after failing the gender appropriateness test administered by the International Boxing Association (IBA). . The Olympic Committee disputed the allegations, saying that in the documentation, Imane Khelif is a woman and will be treated as such. The Olympic Committee stated: "Scientifically, it is not a man fighting a woman", and took measures to exclude the International Boxing Association, due to accusations such as corruption, lack of transparency regarding finances and governance.
In a post published on X, Rowling published a photo from Imane's match with Angela, writing: "The smile of a man who knows he is protected by a misogynistic sports establishment who enjoys the discomfort of a woman who he just got punched in the head. The ambition of her life has just been destroyed." In another post, she stated that she is not claiming that Khelif is transgender, but her opposition coincided with men's violence against women, which is now becoming an "Olympic sport".
Musk also said that "men should not belong in women's sports", while Trump took advantage of the situation to turn the occasion into a political campaign. He published a fragment from the match and said: "I will keep men away from women's sports."
Imane's lawyer told Variety that they are asking the prosecution to investigate not only the people named in the lawsuit, but anyone they feel is necessary. "If the case goes to court, we will appear in court", he said.
Pedro Diaz, the coach of the Algerian boxer, said that the pressure she endured during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games affected a lot not only her, but all the people around her. “The first time she competed in the Olympics, there was a crazy storm outside the ring. I had never seen something so disgusting," he said.
At the end of the Olympic Games, Imane Khelif won against Yang Li (China) and said: “I am fully qualified to compete. I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I lived as a woman, I competed as a woman and there is no doubt about it," adding that all the voices that circulated gave a better taste of her success.
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