Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is officially filing an online harassment complaint after getting caught up in a "gender controversy" involving several news outlets and celebrities claiming that Khelif is transgender, which she is not.
Khelif's lawyer, Nabil Boudi, told Reuters that this formal complaint was filed on Friday, August 9, and Sky News reports that the legal document has been submitted to the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office. The complaint reportedly notes that Khelif was the victim of online harassment while competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
A press release shared by Khelif's lawyer reads as follows (as translated to English):
"After the sporting time, comes the legal time. Having just won a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, boxer Imane Khelif has decided to lead a new fight: that of justice, dignity, and honor. Ms. Khelif contacted the firm which filed a complaint yesterday for acts of cyber harassment aggravated by the anti-online hatred center of the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office."
The statement continues, "The criminal investigation will determine who initiated this misogynistic, racist, and sexist campaign, but will also have to focus on those who fueled this digital lynching. The unfair harassment suffered by the boxing champion will remain the biggest stain of these Olympic Games."
On Saturday, August 10, Khelif also shared the following statement with the press:
"All that is being said about me on social media is immoral. I want to change the minds of people around the world."
Imane Khelif at the Paris 2024 Olympics posing with her gold medal.
Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images
Khelif won the gold medal in the women's welterweight (66kg) event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Friday, August 9 after experiencing an onslaught of harassment from celebrities and news outlets inaccurately claiming that the Algerian boxer is transgender.
The last Olympic match that secured Khelif the gold was against Yang Liu of China. Unlike some of Khelif's past competitors, Liu was never seen displaying any hostility toward Khelif or pushing the inaccurate claim that the Algerian boxer is trans.
In fact, Khelif and Liu were seen smiling and raising their hands together during the match.
Yang Liu and Imane Khelif at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Maja Hitij/Getty Images
After winning the gold medal, Khelif said the following to the press in attendance: "For eight years, this has been my dream, and I'm now the Olympic champion and gold medalist" (via The Associated Press).
Moreover, when asked about the "gender controversy" that has been taking place on social media, Khelif offered the following reaction:
"That also gives my success a special taste, because of those attacks. We are in the Olympics to perform as athletes, and I hope that we will not see any similar attacks in future Olympics."
Out has reached out to Imane Khelif's lawyer, Nabil Boudi.
This story is still developing…
