Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling face up to 5 years in prison in cyberbullying lawsuit by Imane Khelif

Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling could face up to five years in prison and fines of up to £214,000 if Paris 2024 Olympics boxer Imane Khelif prevails in her criminal cyberbullying lawsuit against them.

The tech mogul and the author were prominent critics of Khelif's participation in the Olympics, where she won gold. Khelif has filed a lawsuit alleging "acts of aggravated cyber harassment" against both figures, and the potential legal consequences have now been revealed.

Khelif, a 25-year-old Olympian from Algeria, faced gender eligibility issues that led to her disqualification from the 2023 world championships. Her participation in the Paris 2024 Games sparked protests from various quarters, including Musk and Rowling, as well as some of her competitors. However, others supported her right to compete.

Nabil Boudi, Khelif’s attorney in Paris, confirmed that Musk and Rowling are named in the criminal complaint submitted to France's anti-online hatred center. The lawsuit could lead to prison terms ranging from two to five years and fines between £26,000 and £39,000 for cyberbullying offenses. If prosecuted as online hate speech, the fines could reach up to £214,000.

Boudi explained that the lawsuit, filed against Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter), is aimed at "unknown persons" to allow a broad investigation into those who posted hateful messages, including anonymous users. The lawsuit also names former US President Donald Trump, whose social media posts about Khelif are under scrutiny.

French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the harassment claims, focusing on gender-based cyber harassment, public insults, and incitement to discrimination. This follows Khelif's recent gold medal win in the women's 66kg boxing category and the intense scrutiny she faced over her gender.

Rowling had shared a photo of Khelif’s match, accusing her of enjoying the distress of her opponent. Musk re-shared a post criticizing the inclusion of men in women's sports, while Trump supported the exclusion of men from women’s sports with his own post.

The backlash began when Khelif's opponent, Angela Carini, abandoned their fight early, which led to criticism and accusations against Khelif. Despite this, the International Olympic Committee stood by its decision to allow Khelif to compete, following the disqualification of the International Boxing Association.

Back in Algeria, Khelif was celebrated by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and her family. Her former coach, Mustapha Bensaou, stated that the lawsuit aims to defend athletes' rights and dignity globally, emphasizing that the attacks on Khelif were intended to demoralize her.