Algerian boxer Imane Khelif came under severe scrutiny on social media during the Paris Olympics after several high-profile individuals including Elon Musk suggested she was not qualified to compete in women’s boxing because she was transgender.
The protests started after Italian boxer Angela Carini quit her Olympic boxing match against Khelif, 25, after just 46 seconds. Khelif subsequently faced a barrage of criticism from the likes of Musk, J.K. Rowling, and Donald Trump.
Musk chimed in the conversation after American swimmer Riley Gaines shared a post about men being allowed to compete in women’s sports, Metro reported. “Men don’t belong in women’s sports,” Gaines posted. Musk responded by writing, “Absolutely.”
RELATED STORIES
But Khelif, who eventually won gold in the women’s boxing event at the Paris Olympics, was born female and identifies as such. Her participation in the Paris Olympics came after she was not allowed to compete in the Women’s World Championships in 2023 because of her inability to meet the gender eligibility requirements set out by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
READ ALSO: Elon Musk’s transgender daughter speaks out after he said she was ‘dead’
Khelif has, however, actively participated in women’s boxing, and The International Olympic Committee gave the 25-year-old the all-clear to compete in the Paris Olympics. In an interview on the French TV show CLIQUE, an emotional Khelif touched on the criticisms she faced and accused Musk of being “cruel” to her.
“Elon Musk was one of the first to attack me during this hate campaign,” the 25-year-old said. “He posted this video and it was retweeted,” she continued. “So, he was one of the first to have spread this buzz, this campaign against me.”
“I would say… you hate me but you don’t even know me. I don’t even know why you led this attack. You have been cruel to me, cruel to my family, to my mother,” she added. “At that time, my mother was going to hospital every day.”
“So I don’t understand the behaviour of people today. God is my guide, I am a practising Muslim woman. I am a Muslim Arabic woman and I got through this moment,” she said. “I hope I will be even stronger in the future and come back even more motivated.”
The alleged online abuse ultimately led Khelif to file a lawsuit in France after she competed in the Olympics, Metro reported. The defendants named in the lawsuit include the social media platform X – which is owned by Musk – and Rowling.
“What we’re asking is that the prosecution investigates not only these people but whoever it feels necessary. If the case goes to court, they will stand trial,” Khelif’s attorney, Nabil Boudi, told Variety.
