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{{Short description|A case of an online fake auction of Muslim women in India}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
|title=The Bulli Bai case
|partof=[[Hate speech in India]]
|image=
|caption=
|location= India
|date= 1 January 2022
|time=
|timezone=
|type= Online mock auction of Muslim women
|fatalities=
|injuries=

|motive= Harassment and humiliation of Muslim women
|weapons=
|numparts= 4
}}

The '''Bulli Bai case'''{{efn|"Bulli" is a euphemism or slang for Muslim females derived from the word [[mullah]], while [[Bai (suffix)|bai]] is an Indian honorific, used here ironically.}} related to an online mock auction of Muslim women in [[India]]. Photos of prominent Muslim journalists and activists were uploaded on the Bulli Bai app without their permission where they were auctioned virtually. Like [[Sulli Deals]], the app did not actually sell anyone, but harassed and humiliated these women. The app has been removed from the Internet platform [[GitHub]], where it was hosted, following outrage over the app.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/5/india-police-arrests-bulli-bai-online-auction-muslim-women|title=India police make arrests in online 'auction' of Muslim women|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2022-01-07|archive-date=2022-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107043251/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/5/india-police-arrests-bulli-bai-online-auction-muslim-women|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59891036|title=Bulli Bai app: Fourth man held over the auction of Muslim women|work=BBC News|date=January 6, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107043300/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59891036|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/india-bulli-bai-app-creator-brought-to-delhi-to-be-produced-before-court-1.84793273|title=India: 'Bulli Bai' app creator brought to Delhi, to be produced before court|website=gulfnews.com|date=6 January 2022 |access-date=2022-01-07|archive-date=2022-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107043300/https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/india-bulli-bai-app-creator-brought-to-delhi-to-be-produced-before-court-1.84793273|url-status=live}}</ref>

The police investigating the case, have found that the creators of the app identify as "Trads" (stands for "traditionalists”), who promote genocide against minorities.<ref name="vice 12 Jan" />

== Background ==
{{Islamophobia}}
On 4 July 2021 several Muslim women pictures were posted on Twitter as "deal of the day".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Hana Mohsin |title=The dread of discovering I'm on an app that auctioned me {{!}} VIEW |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/discovering-yourself-sulli-deals-list-1895867-2022-01-04 |work=India Today |language=en |access-date=2022-01-10 |archive-date=2022-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104132305/https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/discovering-yourself-sulli-deals-list-1895867-2022-01-04 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bakshi |first1=Asmita |title='We won't shut up': Muslim women put up 'for auction' in India |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/12/sulli-deals-a-virtual-auction-of-indian-muslim-women |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |access-date=2022-01-10 |archive-date=2022-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110065657/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/12/sulli-deals-a-virtual-auction-of-indian-muslim-women |url-status=live }}</ref> After which several accounts started speaking against the [[Sulli Deals]] app which was hosted on GitHub as an "open-source project." After multiple complaints, GitHub took the app down and suspended the "Sulli Deals" account which hosted the app.<ref>{{cite news |title='Sulli Deals': How photos of Muslim women were misused on a GitHub app |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1633549 |work=DAWN.COM |date=6 July 2021 |language=en |access-date=10 January 2022 |archive-date=5 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105022612/https://www.dawn.com/news/1633549 |url-status=live }}</ref> Delhi Police investigated the matter and did not make any arrests in the Sulli Deals case until end of 2021. In January 2022 Delhi police claimed to have arrested the creator of Sulli Deals from Indore Madhya Pradesh.<ref name="Sulli Deals 10 Jan">{{cite news |title=Delhi Police arrests mastermind behind Sulli Deals app from Indore |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/delhi-police-arrests-mastermind-behind-sulli-deals-app-from-indore/articleshow/88786362.cms |access-date=10 January 2022 |work=The Economic Times |date=9 January 2022 |archive-date=10 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110085007/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/delhi-police-arrests-mastermind-behind-sulli-deals-app-from-indore/articleshow/88786362.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Incident==
Reportedly on 1 January 2022, a [[GitHub]] Pages site was launched in the subdomain "bullibai.github.io" that contained allegedly doctored pictures of numerous Indian women that includes journalists, social workers, students and famous personalities, accompanied by derogatory content. These pictures were reportedly taken from their respective Social Media accounts before being edited and uploaded to the website for an auction without their consent. All of these women were Muslims.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bullibai-app-controversy-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/88647836.cms|title=Bulli Bai app controversy: All you need to know | India News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=2 January 2022 |access-date=2022-01-07|archive-date=2022-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102201419/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bullibai-app-controversy-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/88647836.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The GitHub page and the user account that launched it has since been removed by GitHub following complaints about objectionable content.

==Accused==
According to the police investigating the case, all the four accused were reported.<ref name="DW Auction">{{cite news |title=India: 'Auction' of Muslim women on apps reveals widespread online abuse |url=https://www.dw.com/en/india-auction-of-muslim-women-on-apps-reveals-widespread-online-abuse/a-60379358 |access-date=11 January 2022 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=10 January 2022 |quote=The creator of the app, Neeraj Bishnoi, including three other perpetrators, Shweta Singh, Mayank Rawal, and Vishal Kumar Jha, are believed to be influenced by Hindu right-wing ideology. All of them were between the ages of 18 and 25 years, police said. |archive-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111022001/https://www.dw.com/en/india-auction-of-muslim-women-on-apps-reveals-widespread-online-abuse/a-60379358 |url-status=live }}</ref> The police have linked the creators of the app to [[alt-right]] groups inspired by [[Neo-Nazism]]. The members of these groups call themselves "Trads", short for traditionalists. These groups promote rhetoric for genocide of Muslims, Dalits, Sikhs and other Indian minorities.<ref name="vice 12 Jan">{{cite news |title=These Muslim Women Were Fetishized for Their Faith and 'Auctioned' Online |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3n3j4/muslim-women-fetishized-auctioned-online-india |access-date=13 January 2022 |work=www.vice.com |date=12 January 2022 |language=en |archive-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112192919/https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3n3j4/muslim-women-fetishized-auctioned-online-india |url-status=live }}</ref> The creators of the app had used [[Sikhism|Sikh religion]] names to mislead people. According to Mumbai Police, this could have caused religious enmity and violence.<ref name="Rediff Sikh">{{cite news |last1=Waje |first1=Hemant |title=Bulli Bai accused used Sikh names to mislead: Mumbai Police |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/bulli-bai-accused-used-sikh-names-to-mislead-mumbai-police/20220105.htm |access-date=11 January 2022 |work=Rediff |date=5 January 2022 |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111080837/https://www.rediff.com/news/report/bulli-bai-accused-used-sikh-names-to-mislead-mumbai-police/20220105.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On 9 March 2022, the [[Delhi Police]] filed a [[Chargesheet|charge sheet]], charging the accused persons with offenses including Section 153A (Promoting enmity between groups), Section 153B (causing disharmony), 354A(3) (Sexual harassment), and 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Staff Reporter |date=2022-03-09 |title=Delhi police files chargesheets in Sulli Deals and Bulli Bai app cases |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-police-files-chargesheets-in-sulli-deals-and-bulli-bai-app-cases/article65205846.ece |access-date=2022-03-09 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

On 29 March, the court granted bail to two men alleged of creating the apps, on humanitarian grounds adding that the accused was the "first-time offender".<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-60910718 | title=Delhi court grants bail to Bulli Bai, Sulli Deals creators | work=BBC News | date=29 March 2022 }}</ref>

==Reactions==
The journalist body, [[Editors Guild of India]] released a statement taking note of the incident and stated, "Though law enforcement agencies have arrested those supposedly behind such apps, there is a need for further investigation to ensure that all those behind such despicable acts, even beyond those arrested, are brought to justice."<ref name="Newslaundry Editors Guild">{{cite news |title=From Tek Fog to 'Bulli Bai', Editors Guild condemns 'online harassment of women journalists' |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/01/11/from-tek-fog-to-bulli-bai-editors-guild-condemns-online-harassment-of-women-journalists |access-date=11 January 2022 |work=Newslaundry |date=11 January 2022 |archive-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111054156/https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/01/11/from-tek-fog-to-bulli-bai-editors-guild-condemns-online-harassment-of-women-journalists |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Misogynistic abusive">{{cite news |title='Misogynistic, abusive': Editors' Guild demands SC probe into Tek Fog app |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/misogynistic-abusive-editors-guild-demands-sc-probe-tek-fog-app-159735 |access-date=11 January 2022 |work=The News Minute |date=11 January 2022 |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111105951/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/misogynistic-abusive-editors-guild-demands-sc-probe-tek-fog-app-159735 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 11 January 2022, the [[United Nations]] [[United Nations special rapporteur|Special Rapporteur]] on Minority Issues, Fernand de Varennes, said, "Minority Muslim women in India are harassed and ‘sold’ in social media apps, #SulliDeals, a form of hate speech, must be condemned and prosecuted as soon as they occur. All Human Rights of minorities need to be fully and equally protected".<ref name="UN official">{{cite news |title=UN official says app targeting Muslim women form of hate speech, must be condemned |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/un-official-app-targeting-muslim-women-hate-speech-condemned-7719342/ |access-date=12 January 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=13 January 2022 |language=en |archive-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112104314/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/un-official-app-targeting-muslim-women-hate-speech-condemned-7719342/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}{{Sexual abuse}}
[[Category:2022 in India]]
[[Category:January 2022 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:2022 controversies]]
[[Category:Misogyny]]
[[Category:Sexual harassment in India]]
[[Category:Cybercrime in India]]
[[Category:Cyberbullying]]
[[Category:2022 in Internet culture]]
[[Category:Islamophobia in India]]
[[Category:Indian websites]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2022]]
[[Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2022]]
[[Category:Internet trolling]]
[[Category:Online obscenity controversies]]
[[Category:Shock sites]]
[[Category:Websites with far-right material]]
[[Category:Internet forums]]
[[Category:Internet-related controversies]]
[[Category:Stalking]]
[[Category:Delisted applications]]
[[Category:Hindutva]]

Bulli Bai case - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article