Days after Algerian boxer Imane Khelif filed a case in France over the online harassment she faced during the 2024 Olympics, some high-profile people, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Harry Potter author JK Rowling, have been named.
Khelif claimed gold in the women’s welterweight division at the Paris tournament on Friday (August 9), marking Algeria’s first gold medal in boxing by a woman at the Games. However, her achievement was overshadowed by controversy regarding her gender.
The 25-year-old was disqualified from the women’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after allegedly failing a gender eligibility test. The IBA, expelled by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over financial and corruption issues, has not provided evidence for its claims, and Khelif has been cleared to compete by the IOC.
On Friday, Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, filed a complaint with a special unit in the Paris prosecutor’s office dedicated to combating online hate speech. The complaint accuses Khelif of being targeted by “aggravated cyber-harassment,” which Boudi described as a “misogynist, racist, and sexist campaign” against her, according to media reports.
He revealed that figures such as JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, and that Donald Trump will also be investigated as part of the prosecution, given his involvement through social media.
Representatives for Rowling and Musk have been contacted for comment. Boudi emphasized that while specific names are mentioned, the prosecution is requested to investigate anyone deemed necessary. If the case goes to court, those involved will face trial.
Rowling referred to Khelif as a “male” on Musk’s platform X (formerly Twitter) and accused her of deriving pleasure from the suffering of another woman. Musk endorsed a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that opposed men competing in women’s sports, and Trump supported this stance on his Truth Social platform.
The controversy intensified after Angela Carini withdrew from her bout with Khelif, tearfully claiming it was unfair and describing the impact of Khelif’s punches as the hardest she had ever experienced.
In response, Khelif stated that winning gold was a message of “dignity and honor” to the IBA. She expressed pride in having her story known worldwide and rejected doubts about her gender, calling those who question it “enemies of success.” Khelif hopes that the Olympic Charter’s values will be upheld and that future Olympics will not see similar attacks.
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