Algeria’s top TV news anchor Youcef Zaghba, who grew up in the same village as controversial Algerian female boxer Imane Khelif and watched her career develop, has made a passionate defence of his friend’s right to fight as a woman, as the international campaign against her gathers momentum.
Celebrities including author JK Rowling and former boxer Barry McGuigan have questioned Imane’s participation in the Paris Olympics after her Italian opponent Angela Carini dramatically withdrew from their fight after just 46 seconds.
Algerian media has since mounted a steadfast defence of her and homegrown stars such as former Man City star Riyad Mahrez have also given Khelif their backing.
Revealing how Imane’s family – who have not travelled to Paris – were left stunned by the criticism of their daughter and he also gave his unwavering and passionate support, Mr Zaghba writes exclusively here for MailOnline.
Algeria’s top TV news anchor Youcef Zaghba (right) grew up in the same village as Algerian boxer Imane Khelif (left)
I have known Iman since she was a little girl because she lives in the same district that I live in. Imane’s family was affected, as were all just people in the world, after this abuse and smear campaign against Imane Khalif.
They are very upset by these false charges made by some people to their daughter, they have caused great harm to all those that know her, friends and family.
Yesterday I contacted the coach, Siddiqi Muhammad, who introduced her to the world of boxing and gave her money to buy her first sportswear when she was a little girl, and I also found him extremely affected by this negative campaign directed towards Imane.
All of Algeria supports our heroic daughter, Imane Khalif. The authorities, the citizen athletes…they are all behind Imane Khalif and they trust her. The Algerian Minister of Sports published a tweet in support of her.
The Algerian Olympic Committee published a statement of support for her. Even the International Olympic Committee published a statement that does justice to Imane and confirms the safety of her participation in ALL the international championships that took place before, and I assure you of something very important, in Algeria it is strictly forbidden to change gender.
There is not a single transgender person living in Algeria because all components of Algeria categorically reject this idea.
We are Muslims and for us this matter is forbidden and it is impossible for it to happen in Algeria. Imane Khalif is a girl, and any discussion of her gender is an insult to her and a great insult to humanity and to women in the world.
I am not defending Imane because she is my friend or the daughter of my country, no, I am defending humanity.
Childhood pictures of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif (pictured) have emerged amid a global gender row
Khelif’s (pictured front right) family have been left stunned following the gender row
Khelif (right) is said to have sold bread and utensils so that she could pay her transport fees for getting to the gym, according to Zaghba
DNA tests, which are compulsory for boxers, revealed the presence of XY chromosomes, typical of the male sex, in Khelif’s DNA (Khelif is pictured)
Imane Khelif is pictured in the centre during a training session before the Olympics
And about a woman who was subjected to a campaign of abuse from several people in the world, including the director x platform and ex president of USA (Donald Trump) and Prime Minister of Italy.
If they did this out of ignorance, they should apologize now. In this conversation, we will publish for you exclusive and real pictures of Iman when she was a little girl.
Imane was a little girl who lived in a pauper family. Her father did not always work, and her mother did not work. She was the eldest daughter in the family.
She told me that she always wished to buy study tools, but she was unable to do so because of poverty, which was what pushed her to work when she was a little girl.
Imane used to sell bread and utensils. The broken pieces and plastic so that she can get some money to buy things she needs for studying and be able to pay the transportation costs to the gym.
The thing that prompted Imane Khalif to practice boxing is that she was influenced by the world champion Muhammad Ali Clay, as well as the coach Muhammad, who once told her to come to train and if you win In the fight, I will buy you study tools, which is what happened.
Iman won and got the study tools. From that day, Iman became attached to boxing and began to develop.
The female Italian boxer Angela Carini (left) was left reeling from the cross by Algeria’s Imane Khelif (right) – who was previously banned from the world championships for being ‘biologically male’
Khelif is seen shouting in the ring during her controversial clash with the Italian
Female Italian boxer Angela Carini (in the blue) says she stopped her Olympic bout against her ‘biologically male’ opponent Imane Khelif (right) to ‘save my life’
The clash between Imane Khelif (left) and Angela Carini (right) lasted just 46 seconds, with the Algerian coming out on top
In the beginning, Iman’s family was against the idea of boxing, because she is a child, and we in Algeria are a conservative society. We
do not easily accept the idea of a girl practicing boxing.
Her family was opposed to her practicing boxing until she won the Algerian boxing championship. Iman’s family became her biggest supporter and first supporter.
I say to those who are wondering about her gender, we in Algeria do not have transgender people among us because all regulations prevent that and we are a society that is fundamentally against transgenderism.
This is not the first time Imane has participated in a world championship. She participated in the world championship and was defeated by the Irish champion and participated.
In the previous Olympics, they were defeated. All these bodies confirm that doubts about Iman’s gender are wrong. Rather, we consider them an insult and insult to women in the world.
I do not have Imane’s birth certificate, because we are certain of her gender and origin. We in Algeria do not discuss the issue of gender transition, nor do we raise this issue.
The naming is because it is considered a word of shame and we are ashamed to even say it. I hope they stop insulting Imane. They have wronged her and caused great harm to her family and those around her.
