Algerian boxer and newly crowned Olympic champion Imane Khelif has filed a criminal complaint against J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk, and other high-profile figures for alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment.”
The complaint was lodged with French authorities, targeting those who contributed to a torrent of online abuse she endured during the Paris Olympics.
Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, confirmed that the complaint specifically mentions Rowling, Musk, and former U.S. President Donald Trump, among others.
“J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others. Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution,” said Boudi.
While the lawsuit is officially directed at unknown individuals, it aims to bring these prominent figures into the investigation. The Paris Prosecutor’s Office has opened an inquiry into the matter.
The controversy arose when Khelif’s gender eligibility for the women’s boxing competition was questioned, despite the International Olympic Committee’s confirmation of her status as a biological female. Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), became a battleground for hateful comments and accusations against the athlete.
Rowling, Musk, and Trump were among the high-profile figures who shared posts questioning Khelif’s eligibility and fueling the online harassment.
“Could any picture sum up our new men’s rights movement better? The smirk of a male who knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment, enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered,” wrote Rowling.
Musk, on the other hand, retweeted swimmer Riley Gaines, stating, “Men don’t belong in women’s sports.”
Despite apologies from some of those involved, Khelif’s lawyer maintains that the legal process will continue.
