Bulli Bai: Indian Muslim women were also enrolled in the ‘auction’ | Stories of Islamophobia

New Delhi, India – On January 1, Quratulain Rehbar, a journalist from Kashmir, India-based, woke up to find himself being sold “online”. Her image was saved without her permission and placed on a “for sale” program.

He was not alone.

Pictures of more than 100 Muslim women, including well-known actresses Shabana Azami, wife of Delhi’s Supreme Court judge, several journalists, human rights activists and politicians were featured on the show to sell as the “Bulli Bai” of the day.

Even the Nobel laureate in Pakistan Malala Yousafzai was not left out by the perpetrators.

After last July “Sulli products“, in which about 80 Muslim women were placed” for sale “,” Bulli Bai “It was the second such attempt in less than a year.

“Bulli” and ‘Sulli’ are derogatory terms used for Muslim women in their language. However, this time the Punjabi language was used in the form of ‘Bulli Bai’ in English, “journalist Mohammad Zubair, who works for AltNews, told Al Jazeera.

Rehbar, who previously reported on the “Sulli Deals” commercial in July last year, told Al Jazeera that he was surprised to see his picture on the show.

“When I saw my picture, my throat was heavy, I had pimples on my hands and I was numb. It was strange and embarrassing,” he said.

Last year I wrote about how pictures of Muslim women were auctioned online where women felt haunted by shame. Today, a year later I see my picture in a different light #bullideals, in addition to other Muslim women, it makes me feel very disgusting. https://t.co/AE0N1sInE2

– Quratulain Rehbar (@ainulrhbr) January 1, 2022

While there was no real sale, the online app – developed on Microsoft’s open GitHub website – was, according to Rehbar, aimed at “insulting and demeaning Muslim Muslim women”.

The app was released on Saturday, with victims claiming that the GitHub add-on feature “Bulli Bai” was very similar to the one used by “Sulli Deals”.

By Saturday evening, many other Muslim women began posting shocking and outrage on television after seeing pictures and details of the program.

Among them was Ismat Ara, a journalist from the capital of New Delhi.

Ara filed a complaint on Saturday with police in Delhi against “unidentified individuals” for harassing and insulting Muslim women on television “using illegal and obscene images”.

Based on its complaints, the First Information Report (FIR) filed with the Delhi Cyber ​​Police on Sunday, summoning various sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with the promotion of religious hatred, threats to international integration and violence against women.

EXERCISE: FIRE has been registered by the Cyber ​​Police (South East Delhi) on the basis of my complaint with sections 153A of the IPC (Promoting Religious and Religious Hate torture. #Corporations pic.twitter.com/dJ1mspyGI

– Ismat Ara (@IsmatAraa) January 2, 2022

Following another complaint by Sidrah, whose image reappeared on the program, a police case was re-registered at India’s financial center in Mumbai against various Twitter tools by “Bulli Bai” programmers.

However, Ara said he had no hope in the police investigation, his fears based on the “Sulli Deals” investigation did not see the arrest even after six months.

Fatima Zohra Khan, a Mumbai-based lawyer named “Sulli” and “Bulli Bai”, also lodged a complaint with the Mumbai police last year.

“We have not received any response from Twitter, GitHub and Go-Daddy (an internet service company) although the Mumbai Police have asked them to disclose more information. The websites refuse to share information unless court approval is granted,” he told Al Jazeera.

New Delhi and Mumbai police officials did not respond to Al Jazeera’s questions at a recent “auction”.

I’ve been trying to gather energy to write something #Corporations. When I think I have stopped the dangers of #SulliDeals behind me, it surprised us (me along with more than 112 Muslim women) again with a changed color, like the new year. 1/6

– Nabiya Khan | Nabiya Khan (@ NabiyaKhan11) January 2, 2022

“It is unfortunate to see that hate activists are allowed to fight Muslim women without fear. This is not the first time such a deal has taken place, ”said Ara.

“Concerned women are talkative women who raise the issue of Muslims on social media. It is a clear conspiracy to ban Muslim women because we condemn right-wing Hindus online against their hate crimes,” he added.

At the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr last year, YouTube channel “Liberal Doge”, shared pictures of Pakistani women in a sex video, titled “Eid Special”. It was fired by the company after an outburst.

A few weeks later, Muslim women were “sold” on Twitter under “Sulli Deals”.

The anger of the Muslim women you are dealing with in your time today comes from the most frustrating places – frustration, demon possession, and protection, all at the same time. Experiences ranging from regular mention, to online sales. #Corporations

– Fatima Khan (@khanthefatima) January 1, 2022

Several Indian lawmakers have reported the matter to the government, including Priyanka Chaturvedi, who lives west of Maharashtra, his native Mumbai.

Following a tweet calling on India’s IT minister to “take action” against “women’s discrimination and the community’s follow-up”, the ministry said GitHub banned the user from hosting the site and “police officials are planning something”.

“Police complaints were registered during ‘Sulli deals’. However, nothing was done. That is why these people are so brave,” Chaturvedi told Al Jazeera.

There are many Islamic names, including mine, in obscenities #Corporations , the same #SulliDeals
Even Najeeb’s mother was not abandoned. It is a picture of India’s broken justice system, a broken legal system. Are we living in a world where women are insecure?

– Sayema ​​(@_sayema) January 1, 2022

Rehbar said it was “extremely dangerous” for Muslim women who “struggle against men with restrictions” on the one hand and “such abuse” on the other.

“Women are frequently asked to post their pictures on social networking sites and to hide them. After trying to harass Muslim women, it will be difficult for many women to take action.

Rana Ayyub, a reporter for Mumbai and The Washington Post, told Al Jazeera that people “appreciate the abuse of women without legal recognition”.

“‘Bulli Bai’ is taking India’s hate militants to an extreme level where Muslim women are being raped and abused in public,” he said.

“These trafficking of women from sub-regions is a reflection of the moral decay in India and its laws.”