Filed suit against online incitement
Following the sporting battle, a legal one now ensues: Olympic boxer Imane Khelif reportedly plans to take action against online hate against her person. Investigations are to clarify who has fueled a campaign against her.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, after her Olympic victory, is reportedly engaged in a legal battle against hate messages on the internet. Nabil Boudi, who is said to be working as her lawyer, published a corresponding press release on X. In it, the lawyer announced a complaint about cyberbullying to the competent department of the Paris public prosecutor's office.
The criminal investigations are to clarify who initiated and fueled the "misogynistic, racist, and sexist campaign," it says in the statement. This would remain "the biggest stain of these Olympic Games." A legal battle would be fought for "justice, dignity, and honor."
Khelif's and Lin Yi-ting's fights from Taiwan were accompanied by an emotionally charged gender debate during the Olympics. This went far beyond the question of fair sporting competition and also reached the highest political circles. In the heated social and political climate, both athletes received many insults on the internet. In the evening, Lin also won the gold medal against the Polish Julia Szeremeta with 5:0.
Support from human rights organizations
"The appalling extent of online abuse against Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting is yet another deeply disturbing example of the toxic, sexist, and racist discourse that has harmed women in sport and society," Stephen Cockburn of Amnesty International said in the statement from the Sports & Rights Alliance. Representatives of other human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and ILGA World also supported the two athletes.
Both boxers were previously excluded from the 2023 World Championships by the IBA, which is not recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), for reasons of gender tests. According to the IBA, both had not met the required participation criteria and had "competitive advantages compared to other female participants." The IOC called it a "arbitrary decision without proper procedure" and allowed Khelif and Lin to participate in Paris. The gender indicated in the passport is decisive for admission to many sports, it was explained.
Imane Khelif, the Olympic boxing champion, is planning to file a complaint against the hate messages she received following her victory at the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris. These messages, as stated in a press release by her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, include misogynistic, racist, and sexist comments.
The legal battle by Imane Khelif and the support from human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, highlight the need for action against the pervasive online abuse against female athletes during major sporting events, such as the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris.
