PARIS – French authorities have launched an investigation following reports of online harassment against Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, who faced criticism and false claims regarding her gender during the Summer Olympics. This announcement was made on Monday by the Paris prosecutor’s office.
The athlete’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, filed a lawsuit with a specialized unit in the Paris prosecutor’s office that combats online hate crimes last Friday. Boudi stated that Khelif was the target of a “misogynistic, racist, and sexist campaign” after she won a gold medal in the women’s welterweight division, making her a national hero in her home country, Algeria, and bringing global attention to women’s boxing.
The prosecutor’s office confirmed receipt of the complaint and has initiated an investigation into the allegations of “cyber harassment based on gender, public insults based on gender, public incitement to discrimination, and public insults based on origin.”
Khelif was involuntarily drawn into a global debate surrounding gender identity and policies in sports after her first match in Paris, where her Italian opponent Angela Carini withdrew just seconds into the match due to pain from initial strikes. False claims falsely alleging that Khelif is transgender or male emerged online, prompting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to defend her while condemning those spreading misinformation. Khelif has stated that the dissemination of misunderstandings about her “harms human dignity.” Among those sharing incorrect information about the athlete were notable figures such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and J.K. Rowling.
Khelif’s lawsuit is directed against social media platforms, including “X” (formerly Twitter), rather than against a specific individual, in accordance with French laws. It is up to investigators to determine which person or organization may ultimately be held accountable.
The investigation was announced only two days after Khelif returned to Algeria, where she is expected to meet with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and be celebrated by her family in her hometown of Ain Mesbah.