Iman Khalif Files Lawsuit Against Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, Others for Defamation

Posted : 14 August 2024

The saga of Iman Khalif continues to draw attention well beyond the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. Recently, the newly crowned Olympic boxing champion in the 66 kg category filed a legal complaint in response to a series of online attacks against her, citing "cyberbullying and abuse." Among those named in the lawsuit are high-profile figures such as billionaire Elon Musk and acclaimed author J.K. Rowling. This legal action underscores the serious nature of the harassment Khalif has faced in the weeks following her Olympic victory.

Khalif's lawyer, Nabil Boudi, based in Paris, confirmed to the French magazine "Variety" that a lawsuit has been filed against the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). Under French law, this legal move will allow authorities to investigate the harsh comments made against Khalif on the platform, including those posted by users hiding behind false identities. The lawsuit also mentions other prominent figures, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose tweets will be scrutinized as part of the investigation, even though his name is not explicitly listed as a defendant.

J.K. Rowling, best known for the "Harry Potter" series, is being sued for posting a photo of Khalif during one of her matches, accompanied by a claim that the Algerian boxer is "a man protected by a misogynistic sports organization that enjoys seeing a woman get punched in the head and have her life's ambitions shattered." Elon Musk, who owns X, is also implicated for sharing a tweet that stated, "There is no place for men in women's sports," to which he added the word "definitely." Boudi noted that beyond the mentioned names, French authorities are expected to investigate anyone deemed necessary, with the possibility of international cooperation, particularly with the United States, on matters related to online hate speech.

Khalif's story has transcended the sports arena, especially after her swift victory in the round of 16 at the Paris Olympics, where her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew after just 46 seconds. This win triggered a smear campaign on social media, questioning Khalif's gender identity. The controversy stems from a gender test Khalif allegedly failed last year. According to the International Boxing Association (IBA), the test, which also included Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, indicated that both athletes were biologically male due to elevated testosterone levels.

However, the IBA never released the test results. The association has faced numerous corruption allegations, and its leadership has been criticized for its nationalist stance, particularly in light of Russia's Olympic suspension due to the Ukraine conflict. Critics suggest that Khalif was targeted by the IBA for defeating a Russian opponent.

In response to the IBA's questionable practices, the International Olympic Committee took over the organization of the Paris tournament, allowing Khalif and Lin to compete under different testing protocols. Despite the complexities, online discussions about Khalif have veered into transphobic territory, although Khalif is not transgender. The Algerian Olympic Committee further fueled the controversy by suggesting that the accusations against its athletes were part of a "Zionist conspiracy."

Iman Khalif Files Lawsuit Against Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, Others for Defamation

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