British biologist and author Richard Dawkins announced on August 10 that his Facebook account had been deleted. He said the reason for this was his comments on Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s participation in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The incident sparked a broader debate on social media about freedom of expression and censorship.
Dawkins, known for his outspoken views, used X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns about the deletion of his Facebook account.
He tweeted: “My entire @Facebook account was apparently deleted (no reason given) because I tweeted that genetically male boxers like Imane Khalif (XY undisputed) should not fight against women at the Olympics. Of course, my opinion can be discussed in a civilized manner. But open censorship?”
At the centre of the controversy is Khelif, who has become a topic of discussion after qualifying for the Olympic Games.
Dawkins had already expressed his views on the issue in a tweet on July 29, where he stated: “Two men posing as women should be allowed to compete against real women in the Olympics,” which was interpreted as a reference to the inclusion of transgender athletes in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The deletion of Dawkins’ Facebook account has sparked discussions about the limits of free expression on social media platforms, particularly when it comes to sensitive issues related to gender and sport.