PARIS — French prosecutors opened an investigation into an online harassment complaint made by Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif after a rain of criticism and false claims about her sex during the Summer Games, the Paris prosecutor’s office said Monday.
The athlete’s lawyer Nabil Boudi filed a legal complaint with a special unit in the Paris prosecutor’s office that combats online hate speech on Friday.
Boudi said that the boxer was targeted by a “misogynist, racist and sexist campaign” as she won gold in the women’s welterweight division, becoming a hero in her native Algeria and bringing global attention to women’s boxing.
The prosecutor’s office said it had received the complaint and its Office for the Fight against Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crime had opened an investigation on charges of “cyber harassment based on gender, public insults based on gender, public incitement to discrimination and public insults on the basis of origin.”
Khelif was unwillingly thrust into a worldwide clash over gender identity and regulation in sports after her first fight in Paris, when Italian opponent Angela Carini pulled out just seconds into the match, citing pain from opening punches.
False claims that Khelif was transgender or a man erupted online, and the International Olympic Committee defended her and denounced those peddling misinformation. Khelif said that the spread of misconceptions about her “harms human dignity.”
Among those who posted misinformation about the athlete were Donald Trump, Elon Musk and J. K. Rowling.
Khelif’s legal complaint was filed against social media platforms, including “X,” instead of a specific perpetrator, a common formulation under French law that leaves it up to investigators to determine which person or organization that may have been at fault.
The Paris prosecutor’s office didn’t name specific suspects.
The development came two days after Khelif returned to Algeria, where she’s expected to meet with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and be welcomed by family in her hometown of Ain Mesbah.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
French prosecutors have recently launched an investigation into the cyber harassment of Algerian Olympic champion Imane Khelif. The 27-year-old athlete, who won a gold medal in the 1500m race at the Tokyo Olympics, has been subjected to a barrage of abusive and threatening messages on social media in recent weeks.
Khelif, who became the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics, has been vocal about the online abuse she has been receiving. In a statement released on her social media accounts, she described the messages as “vile and disgusting” and said that they have had a significant impact on her mental health.
The investigation by French prosecutors is a welcome development in the fight against cyber harassment, which has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. The rise of social media platforms has made it easier for individuals to target and harass others online, often with little consequence.
Cyber harassment can have serious consequences for its victims, including psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. It can also have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives, as well as their physical health.
In the case of Imane Khelif, the cyber harassment she has experienced has cast a shadow over her historic Olympic victory and threatened to overshadow her achievements. It is essential that action is taken to hold those responsible for the abuse accountable and to ensure that such behavior is not tolerated.
The investigation by French prosecutors sends a clear message that cyber harassment will not be tolerated and that those who engage in such behavior will be held accountable for their actions. It is a positive step towards creating a safer and more respectful online environment for all individuals, including athletes like Imane Khelif.
As the investigation progresses, it is important for authorities to take swift and decisive action to identify and prosecute those responsible for the cyber harassment of Imane Khelif. By doing so, they can send a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated and that those who engage in it will face consequences for their actions.
In the meantime, it is crucial for individuals to continue to support and stand in solidarity with Imane Khelif as she navigates this difficult time. By coming together as a community, we can send a powerful message that cyber harassment has no place in our society and that we will not tolerate such behavior towards anyone, regardless of their background or achievements.
