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NEW DELHI: For the second time in less than a year, photos of Muslim women have been uploaded to an application pretending to offer online “auctions” in India.
Users who open the app are shown images of women – mostly doctored photos – with the tag line: “Your Bulli Bai of the day”. The app, created on hosting platform Github, derives its name from the phrase Bulli Bai, a derogatory term used for Muslim women.
Hundreds of women, including journalists, social workers and other prominent personalities in India, found their images on the app on New Year’s Day. The discovery has prompted outrage, with the Indian government promising it will take action.
An Indian Muslim journalist Ismat Ara lodged an official complaint about the same. On January 1, Ara brought attention to the issue after sharing a screenshot from the app where she was listed for ‘auction.’
It is very sad that as a Muslim woman you have to start your new year with this sense of fear & disgust. Of course it goes without saying that I am not the only one being targeted in this new version of #sullideals. Screenshot sent by a friend this morning.
Happy new year. pic.twitter.com/pHuzuRrNXR
— Ismat Ara (@IsmatAraa) January 1, 2022
Many of the Bollywood stars – including Swara Bhaskar, Farhan Akhtar and Richa Chadha – subsequently took to Twitter to protest about the routine harassment that Muslims, especially women, continue to face in India.
“At that point where we’ve to remind ourselves that it’s not okay to sell Muslim women online,” Bhaskar tweeted. She went on to add, “Remind ourselves that it’s not kosher to rally and call for genocide! That it’s not okay to disrupt people’s prayers. This is happening in our name, in the name of our Gods. It’s on us!”
At that point where we’ve to remind ourselves that it’s not okay to SELL MUSLIM WOMEN ONLINE! Remind ourselves that it’s not kosher to rally & call for genocide! That it’s not okay to disrupt people’s prayers. This is happening in our name, in the name of our Gods. It’s on us!
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 2, 2022
She went on to comment, “Vomit worthy people! This is what impunity does. Impunity and total lack of accountability. We are making ourselves monsters!”
Farhan Akhtar expressed his disgust and shared, “This is sickening! Request authorities to take swift and strict action against the people behind this grotesque act.”
This is sickening!! Request authorities to take swift and strict action against the people behind this grotesque act. @GoI_MeitY @MahaCyber1 @NCWIndia @CPMumbaiPolice @CPDelhi @MardOfficial @unwomenindia https://t.co/3sWeq4oYLh
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) January 2, 2022
Richa Chadha lauded Ara and penned, “Ismat, I salute your courage. In solidarity.” The Gangs of Wasseypur star retweeted several tweets about the case.
Ismat, I salute your courage.
In solidarity. 💪🏼 https://t.co/POzLq8TCCL— RichaChadha (@RichaChadha) January 2, 2022
