French authorities have launched an investigation into allegations of aggravated cyber harassment against Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif, with high-profile figures J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk among those named in the complaint. The lawsuit, filed by Khelif’s Paris-based attorney Nabil Boudi, was submitted to the National Center for the Fight Against Online Hatred within the Paris Prosecutor’s Office on Friday.
The complaint accuses individuals of cyber harassment due to gender, public insults based on gender and origin, and public incitement to discrimination. While the lawsuit was filed against “unknown persons,” allowing the prosecution to investigate all potential suspects, Boudi confirmed that the complaint specifically mentions Rowling, Musk, and former U.S. President Donald Trump. According to Boudi, “Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution.”
The allegations come after Khelif, who recently secured a gold medal in the women’s 66-kilogram boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, faced intense scrutiny and harassment over her gender. Despite being born female and not identifying as transgender or intersex, Khelif was targeted by a wave of online abuse and accusations. The International Olympic Committee defended Khelif, asserting that “scientifically, this is not a man fighting a woman.”
Boudi emphasized that the investigation will not be limited to the named individuals but will extend to anyone involved in the online harassment campaign. “What we’re asking is that the prosecution investigates not only these people but whoever it feels necessary. If the case goes to court, they will stand trial,” Boudi stated.
The complaint also suggests that the investigation could extend beyond France, as the Paris Prosecutor’s Office has the ability to request mutual legal assistance from other countries, including the United States. Boudi pointed out that while the lawsuit targets the authors of harmful social media posts, the responsibility for sanctioning platforms like X (formerly Twitter) falls to lawmakers. However, he noted that judicial authorities are increasingly taking cyber harassment cases seriously, with potential prison sentences on the table.
The intense online abuse had a significant impact on Khelif during the Olympics, according to her coach Pedro Diaz. “The bullying she endured incredibly affected her and everyone around her,” said Diaz, who described the online harassment as “the most disgusting” he had ever witnessed. Despite the turmoil, Diaz urged Khelif to stay focused on her goal of winning gold, a victory he described as “the most rewarding” of his coaching career.
Khelif’s case is among several similar complaints being investigated during the Paris Olympics. Other figures, including Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening and closing ceremonies, and DJ Barbara Butch, have also reported online harassment and threats related to their roles in the event.
As the investigation unfolds, the focus will remain on holding those responsible for the cyber harassment accountable, as Khelif continues to receive support from her legal team and the broader community.
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