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Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has named Elon Musk and JK Rowling in a lawsuit filed to French authorities over alleged ‘acts of aggravated cyber harassment’ after they led outcry at her participation in the Paris Olympics.
THE LAWSUIT
Nabil Boudi, the gold medalist’s Paris-based attorney, told Variety that the Tesla mogul and Harry Potter author were both named in the criminal complaint posted to the anti-online hatred center of the public prosecutor’s office last week.
Boudi said that Khelif filed the lawsuit as part of her ‘fight for justice, dignity and honour’. The suit was filed against Musk’s social media network, X, which means it was filed against ‘unknown persons’ per French Law.
Boudi explained that it ensures that the ‘prosecution has all the latitude to be able to investigate against all people,’ including those who shared hateful messages under pseudonyms.
‘J. K. Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others,’ Boudi wrote on X, noting that Donald Trump would also be part of the investigation.
WHAT COULD HAPPEN?
Possible repercussions for cyber-bullying offences in France are prison sentences ranging from two to five years and fines ranging from £26,000 to £39,000. If prosecuted as online hate speech, perpetrators could even be fined £64,000 to £214,000.
‘Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution,’ he added.
The news comes a few days after Khelif took home the gold medal in the women’s 66 kilogram boxing competition.
She emerged victorious after enduring a widespread campaign, in which she faced a torrent of questions over her gender.
The 25-year-old, who is not a transgender woman, allegedly has male ‘XY chromosomes’ which led to her disqualification from the 2023 world championships when she failed unspecified gender eligibility tests administered by the now-banned International Boxing Association.
Her participation against women boxers at the Games led to an outcry from some figures – including Musk and Rowling.
