Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling could face time behind bars after Imane Khelif filed a “cyber-bullying” lawsuit against them for pointing out that the Algerian boxer — who failed past gender tests, per the International Boxing Association (IBA) — was allowed to fight against female boxers at the Olympics.
The X owner and the famed “Harry Potter” author were some of the higher-profile people named in the suit who took to social media to call out the International Olympic Committee for allowing Khelif to compete in women’s boxing, and going on to win the gold in the final, Variety reported.
Following the Paris Summer Olympics, Khelif filed a criminal lawsuit in France claiming “acts of aggravated cyber harassment.” If the boxer wins, Musk and Rowling could face anywhere from two to five years behind bars, because in France, the punishment for “cyber bullying” is jail time and fines.
The fines for cyberbullying range from $33,000 to $50,000. And for online hate speech, the fine ranges from $82,000 to more than $270,000, the Daily Mail noted.
BREAKING: Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling named in a lawsuit filed by Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif, accusing them of “acts of aggravated cyber harassment.”
The complaint was filed to French authorities by Khelif’s attorney who says he hopes the prosecution investigates “whoever it… pic.twitter.com/dA89fcH6lq
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 13, 2024
Khelif’s attorney Nabil Boudi told the outlet that the suit was filed against Musk’s X platform, which means that it was filed against “unknown persons” according to French Law, the Daily Mail noted.
By doing so, Khelif’s attorney is able to cast a wider net that could allow for the prosecution “to investigate against all people,” including “overseas.”
“J. K. Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others,” Boudi wrote on X, noting that former President Donald Trump could be part of the investigation. “Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution.”
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“What we’re asking is that the prosecution investigates not only these people but whoever it feels necessary,” Boudi told Variety. “If the case goes to court, they will stand trial. 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.”
Rowling previously wrote on X, sharing a photo of Khelif (wearing red) fighting against Italy’s Angela Carini, the outlet noted.
“Watch this (whole thread), then explain why you’re OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment. This isn’t sport,” the author wrote. “From the bullying cheat in red all the way up to the organizers who allowed this to happen. This is men reveling in their power over women.”
Trump took to X during the Olympics and wrote, “I will keep men out of women’s sports.”
Musk shared a post from former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines who wrote, “men don’t belong in women’s sports,” with the X owner responding, “Absolutely.”
Khelif previously failed gender eligibility tests by the IBA, but was allowed by the IOC to compete against biological women in the 2024 Paris Olympics.