Off The Record
Imane Khelif Files Legal Complaint Due to Online Harassment After Gender Controversy
Imane Khelif is rejoicing after taking home the gold medal in the 66-kg women’s boxing Olympic competition.
Due to the extreme attention she faced during the Paris Olympics, she has also filed a legal complaint.
Many have wrongly claimed that the 25-year-old Algerian boxer is a guy, which has put her at the heart of a discussion about who can play women’s sports.
After Italian boxer Angela Carini, Imane’s first opponent in the Olympics, withdrew 46 seconds into their bout, Imane shot to fame.
Angela later apologized
Later on, Angela expressed regret for her behavior following the altercation. She sobbed and refused to shake Imane’s hand, telling the Associated Press that she had to quit because of the “severe pain” she was in from Imane’s fists.
Following the altercation, there were allegations going around that Imane was either a transsexual lady or a man.
Later on, Angela acknowledged that not shaking Imane’s hand was a mistake. “I also apologize to my opponent.” She told the Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, “I respect the IOC’s decision if they say she can fight.”
She continued, saying that she “was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke” at the exact time she declined to shake hands with Imane.
High-profile figures took part in criticizing Imane.
Popular public figures and celebrities were spreading false information about Imane, and many of them made use of the IBF’s decision to disqualify Imane from the 2023 championships.
Imane allegedly failed an undisclosed gender ineligibility test, according to the IBA.
Imane has received support from the International Olympic Committee, which has declared her qualified to compete.
Imane has filed a legal complaint.
Imane has said she is “fully qualified to take part in this competition,” per ESPN. “I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified.”
Now that she’s experienced internet harassment, she’s filed a court case.
According to USA Today, Imane’s attorney, Nabil Boudi, described the hate she experienced as a “misogynistic, racist, and sexist campaign” in a statement that appeared on X.
“The unfair harassment suffered by the boxing champion will remain the biggest stain of these Olympic Games,” the attorney shared in the statement.
A criminal complaint was sent to French officials about what the boxer Imane Khelif, who is from Algeria and was just crowned Olympic champion, says were “acts of aggravated cyber harassment.”
J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk were both named in the complaint.
Imane has spoken up about the effects of bullying
Previously, Imane told SNTV that bullying “has massive effects.” Bullying and harassment “can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people,” she added. “And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”
She also called the false information and hateful commentary spread by people online “immoral,” per Reuters. “I want to change the minds of people around the world,” she said.
Prosecutors will decide whether to start an investigation
The legal complaint was submitted on August 9 to the Paris prosecutor’s office’s special unit dealing with online harassment and hate speech.
The Associated Press stated that the complaint does not name the offender because it is the responsibility of the prosecution.
Variety reported that Imane’s attorney referred to the spreaders of false information and hate speech about Imane as “malicious individuals” in a statement to the French publication Le Monde. Additionally, the attorney brought up the fact that some of the perpetrators of this online harassment were “important political figures” with sizable followings. He mentioned that some of their posts “exceeded 100 million views.”
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