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French prosecutors have opened a probe into a cyberbullying claim made by Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, who claims she was subjected to a ‘misogynist, racist and sexist campaign’ during the games.

Prosecutors on Wednesday said several prominent figures had taken part in online harassment over her gender, including, unsurprisingly, Donald Trump.

The complaint was filed by Khelif’s lawyer Nabil Boudi, who says the claim was filed against social media platforms including X, and not against a specific individual. Although, under French law, investigators will now decide if individual persons or organisations may have been at fault.

The Office for the Fight against Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crime also confirmed it has 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, who is the first athlete from the nation to win an Olympic gold since 1996, and also the first gold medallist from Algeria in women’s boxing, was the subject of a very public gender controversy at the Olympic Games in Paris after her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, pulled out of a bout with her seconds into the match, citing concerns for her safety.

In a post on X, Rowling described the boxing match as “a male punching a female”, while Musk shared a post, saying “Men don’t belong in women’s sports”. Trump also chipped in and posted a photo of the fight, writing: “I will keep men out of women’s sports.”

A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to get in the ring with her. You’re a disgrace, your ‘safeguarding’ is a joke and #Paris24 will be forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini. https://t.co/JMKzVljpyr

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 1, 2024

While much of the news in the media claimed Khelif was transgender or a man, the boxer hit back, saying that she is “a woman like any other”.

“I was born a woman, lived a woman and competed as a woman. They hate me and I don’t know why.”

Despite divided opinions online, Khelif received a hero’s welcome back in Algeria, landing at Algiers airport to the cries of “tahia Imane”, meaning “long live Imane”.

Even the local government daily, El Moudjahid, praised the boxer.

“Imane’s victory is also a victory for the oppressed and the excluded, but above all it is a victory for the law, which for too long has been trampled by the logic of the powerful, who are greedy for domination and adept at double-standard policies.”

Khelif’s coach, Mustapha Bensaou, also complained about how Algerian athletes were trampled on and hopes those attacking her will be held accountable.

“All those involved will be prosecuted for violating Imane’s dignity and honour. The attacks on Imane were designed to break her and undermine her morale. Thank God, she triumphed.”

In an interview with The Associated Press this month, Khelif said the tidal wave of hateful comments and misconceptions about her gender “harms human dignity.”

“I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects.”

“It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”

[source:thehill&aljazeera]