JK ROWLING and Elon Musk have been named in Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif’s cyberbullying lawsuit in France.
Algeria’s first women’s boxing gold medallist, who was subjected to a global gender eligibility row during her time competing at the Olympic games in Paris, has filed a criminal complaint over alleged “acts of cyber-harassment”.
Nabil Boudi, the Paris-based attorney of Khelif, confirmed to Variety that both Rowling and Musk were named in the complaint which was made to the anti-online hatred center of the Paris Prosecutor’s Office on Friday last week.
In a statement sent to the news publisher, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office National Center for the Fight Against Online Hatred confirmed it received the complaint filed by Khelif and announced that an investigation had been launched.
READ MORE: Scottish Government to end universal Winter Fuel Payments
Boudi also told Variety that although the complaint mentions names, he wants the prosecution to investigate “whoever it feels necessary” and “if the case goes to court, they will stand trial”.
The lawyer said that while the lawsuit was filed in France, “it could target personalities overseas”.
The lawsuit claims the 25-year-old had been the victim of “misogynistic, racist and sexist” cyberbullying while competing at the Olympic Games.
After Khelif (below) beat Angela Carini at the tournament, Rowling posted a picture on X/Twitter of the Italian boxer crying after she chose to abandon the match after 46 seconds, which said: “Could any picture sum up our new men’s rights movement better?
“The smirk of a male who’s knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.”
In another tweet, the Harry Potter author said: “I don’t claim Khelif is trans. My objection, and that of many others, is to male violence against women becoming an Olympic sport.”
Meanwhile, after the match Musk, who owns X/Twitter, shared a post from American swimmer Riley Gaines that said: “Men don’t belong in women’s sports.”
He added: “Absolutely.”
Former US president Donald Trump, who Boudi said could also be investigated, took to social media to post a picture from the fight with the message: “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”
Khelif faced a whirlwind of accusations over her gender during her time at the games when it was revealed she had been banned from competing in the 2023 Boxing World Championship because she failed a gender eligibility test conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) disputed this test, and before the Paris events stripped the IBA of recognition as boxing’s governing body.
It also expelled the IBA from the Olympics over issues including corruption, financial transparency and governance.
The Algerian’s coach, Pedro Diaz, said the bullying the boxer endured during the Olympics “incredibly affected her” and “everyone around her”.
He added: “I had never seen anything so disgusting in my life.”
Khelif went on to become Algeria’s first gold medallist in women’s boxing at the Olympic Games and the country’s first boxer to win a gold medal since 1996.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel