Imane Khelif, the boxing gold medalist known for her impressive achievements in the sport, has recently made headlines by filing an ‘online harassment’ complaint against the popular social media platform Twitter (X). This bold move by Khelif has sparked a conversation about the responsibilities of social media platforms in protecting the mental well-being of their users, especially high-profile individuals who often face online abuse and harassment.
Khelif, who hails from Algeria, has not shied away from addressing the challenges she has faced on social media platforms, particularly Twitter. Despite her remarkable success in the boxing ring, she has been subjected to a barrage of negative comments, trolling, and online harassment on the platform over her gender. This incessant online abuse has taken a toll on her mental health and well-being, prompting her to take legal action against Twitter (X) for failing to protect her from such harmful behavior.
French newspaper Le Monde reports the boxer filed a complaint Friday against X for “moral harassment.” According to Deadline.com, the complaint has been filed in Paris correctional court’s national center for combating online hate.
The AP described the complaint as alleging “aggravated cyber-harassment,” and Khelif’s attorney Nabil Boudi referred to it as a “misogynist, racist and sexist campaign.”
Khelif won a gold medal in the 66kg women’s category Friday, but her participation in Paris sparked controversy. Khelif was approved to compete by the IOC, despite previously being disqualified from boxing competition by the International Boxing Association for failing a chromosome test. Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who also previously failed the IBA gender test, also boxed in Paris and won gold in the 57kg category. The IBA was stripped of IOC recognition in 2023 for various ethical concerns and boxing’s fate for the 2028 Olympics is still uncertain.
That led many to question both boxers’ legitimacy to compete in Paris. Khelif seemed to bear the brunt of the criticism. The Boston Globe incorrectly ran a headline calling her “transgender.” Pat McAfee and other media personalities addressed the issue.
While Khelif called out the media “bullying” as “something that harms human dignity,” much of the criticism came from online sources, including X (formerly Twitter). Khelif’s complaint against X cites that after her quarterfinal win, X users accused her of being “a transgender person” committing “violence against women,” among other accusations.
Khelif’s attorney said in the complaint those accusations were viewed more than 100 million times around the world.
After winning gold, Khelif said, “I am fully qualified to participate in this competition. I am a woman, I was born a woman, I have lived as a woman and I competed as a woman. There is no doubt about that.”
Imane Khelif’s ‘moral harassment’ complaint against Twitter sheds light on the pervasive issue of online abuse and the urgent need for social media platforms to prioritize the well-being and safety of their users.
