“A hateful, frightening attack”: it was the first reaction of the hundreds of Indians who yesterday found themselves on the net auction, with names and surnames, detailed information, and, under the photos, the words “deal of the day” . Old and young, students or mothers of families, journalists, activists, different from each other, but united by faith, Islam. To turn them into gadgets to be laughed at, for a few rupees, was the Bulli Bai app, a platform that has ridiculed them, in one of the most hateful attacks of recent times.
Already in the name, which combines the vulgar word used for penis with the term “maid”, Bulli Bai declares his misogynist intent. But hatred of women only partially explains the embarrassing harassment: the real target is Muslims. And their community. Victims of increasing attacks now throughout the country. Also today, despite a 2017 Supreme Court ruling that reaffirmed the right for Muslims to wear the veil, a college in Karnataka refused entry to six girls wearing hijabs. In recent weeks, Friday open-air prayers in the square of Gurgaon, one of Delhi’s satellite cities, have been disturbed by teams of Hindu fundamentalists who claim to prevent the public celebration. Muslims in India are nearly two hundred million, 15 percent of the country’s population and constitute the third largest community in the world; but since the BJP and Prime Minister Modi came to power, they are now under explicit attack. India, born on the pillars of the coexistence of a rainbow of religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, is approving measures against the freedom of faith: such as the anti-conversion laws, in force in various states, that block marriages between different religions and foment attacks on non-Hindus. 360 degrees. This was seen in the week of Christmas: everywhere there have been attacks on Christian faithful and churches.
The platform that hosted the auction of shame is closed: Ashwini Vaishnar, the minister for information technology blocked it and started an investigation. But that’s not enough. “This offense against women is disgusting, but the attack on Islam is worse: it denounces the poisoning of our culture”, warn many commentators. This is not the first case of its kind, as the BBC recalls: already last July an app and a website called “Sulli Deals” created the profiles of over 80 Muslim women, using photos uploaded online, and described them as “offers of the day”. Six months later, no arrests have yet been made.
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