Muslim women in India listed on app for 'auction'

Hundreds of women were listed for ‘auction’ using photos taken from their social media accounts

NEW DELHI:

Indian authorities have launched an investigation into an app in which hundreds of Muslim women were listed for “auction” using photos taken from their social media accounts without their permission.

The Delhi police registered a case after getting a complaint from journalist Ismat Ara, whose name is also listed on the Bulli Bai app.

Hundreds of images of Muslim women were uploaded to the app on the open software development site GitHub, and users were asked to take part in an "auction."

Also read: Muslim women offered for sale in fake India 'auction'

The app appeared to be similar to another one called "Sulli Deals" which sparked outrage about six months ago by offering users "Sulli" – a derogatory name used by right-wing social media trolls for Muslim women – as so-called "deals of the day".

The account has been blocked by GitHub and the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and police authorities are coordinating further action, said Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Twitter.

GitHub confirmed blocking the user this morning itself.
CERT and Police authorities are coordinating further action. https://t.co/6yLIZTO5Ce

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) January 1, 2022

Parliamentarian Priyanka Chaturvedi has raised the issue with the Mumbai police.

Many social media users voiced support for the women, arguing that the purpose of targeting Muslim women is to cause physical and mental agony. Many claimed the people behind the apps are from right-wing groups.

जो मोदी सरकार तीन तलाक़ क़ानून लाकर मुस्लिम महिलाओं की हितैषी बनने का ढोंग कर रही थी
आज वो देश की इन मुस्लिम महिलाओं की इंटरनेट पर लग रही बोली पर चुप है …
बहुत हुआ नारी पर वार, अब की बार मोदी सरकार…किसका नारा था ये? https://t.co/C6U8yAbe0N@IsmatAraa @HasibaAmin @priyankac19 pic.twitter.com/gP2LUEmOs1

— Sakshi Joshi (@sakshijoshii) January 2, 2022

. @SidrahDP has got an FIR registered in Mumbai against #BulliDeals. She spent close to five hours in Cyb crime branch narrating the ordeal while also facing traumatic hot takes on Twitter. She's exhausted. Please respect her space.

— Anas Tanwir (बुकरात वकील) (@Vakeel_Sb) January 2, 2022