Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who won gold in boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has once again sparked controversy with her recent statements, when she declared that being transgender would bring shame to her family and country.
Khelif faced criticism on social media and in the press following her victory, which came just 46 seconds into her fight against her Italian opponent, Angela Carini.
Conspiracy theories and false news reports surfaced, accusing her of being transgender—claims that were quickly denied by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
After securing the gold medal, Khelif filed a lawsuit in Paris for harassment, citing cyberbullying on social media. The lawsuit names public figures such as author J.K. Rowling and businessman Elon Musk, among others, as part of the ongoing online attacks.
Imane Khelif: “Being transgender would be a shame”
Despite the backlash, Imane Khelif has also received significant support from the online community, with many defending her against sexist and transphobic attacks. The situation has drawn attention to the discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Algeria.
‘Big shame’: Women’s Olympic boxing gold medalist Imane Khelif condemns politicians who claim he is ‘a transgender,’ saying it dishonors his family, Algeria, and the Arab world to identify as such.
Speculation surrounds the male boxer who failed a chromosomal blood screen to… pic.twitter.com/zqZLBVA4T9
— ICONS (@icons_women) August 14, 2024
“These politicians who pressure me have no right to tell me that I am transgender. Being transgender would be a shame for my family, for my family’s honor, and for the honor of Algeria. For the women of Algeria, and especially for the Arab world, because the whole world knows that I am Arab,“ Imane Khelif in an interview
Her comments have only fueled the ongoing debate, further polarizing opinions on social media between her supporters and detractors.
LGBT rights are almost non-existent in Algeria, and the Penal Code continues to criminalize same-sex adult sexual relations, which could be punished by up to two years in prison and a fine.
In January 2023, the Ministry of Commerce announced a campaign against all products containing “colors and symbols contrary to morality” in reference to the LGBT pride flag, according to the NGO Amnesty International.
This story was written originally in Spanish by Daniel Matute in Cultura Colectiva
