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{{Islamophobia}}

"'''Sulli Deals'''"{{efn|The word "[[wikt:sulli|sulli]]" being a euphemism or slang term for Muslim females.}} was an open-source app which contained photographs and personal information of some 100 Muslim women online.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sulli Deals: The Indian Muslim women 'up for sale' on an app |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57764271 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=9 July 2021}}</ref> An [[first information report|FIR]] was filed by the Delhi Police with [[National Commission for Women]] India taking ''[[suo moto]]'' cognisance of the matter on 8 July.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ramesh |first1=Mythreyee |title='Sulli Deals': No Arrest Made Because We Are Muslim, Say Women Seeking Probe |url=https://www.thequint.com/neon/gender/sulli-deals-github-app-no-arrest-muslim-women-bias |work=TheQuint |date=12 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The creator of the app was a BCA Student from [[Indore, Madhya Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite news |title=118 days: No justice for those targeted by the "Sulli Deals" incident. |url=https://internetfreedom.in/118-days-since-still-no-justice-for-those-targeted-by-the-sulli-deals-incident/ |work=Internet Freedom Foundation |date=30 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Bulli Bai' is a direct result of the state's inaction on 'Sulli Deals' & Islamophobia |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bulli-bai-direct-result-state-inaction-sulli-deals-islamophobia-159523 |work=The News Minute |date=5 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref> On 9 January 2022, Aumkareshwar Thakur, who created the app to "defame" Muslim women, was arrested by the [[Delhi Police]].<ref>{{cite news |title='Sulli Deals' Auction App Creator Arrested from Indore, 'Admits' Idea Was to Defame Muslim Women |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/sulli-deals-app-creator-arrested-from-indore-admits-idea-was-to-defame-muslim-women-4637246.html |work=News18 |date=9 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Thakur was granted bail on 29 March by the court.<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>

==Incident==
On 4 July 2021, several pictures of Muslim women were posted on [[Twitter]], where each was described as a "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 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/discovering-yourself-sulli-deals-list-1895867-2022-01-04 |work=India Today |language=en}}</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}}</ref> Several accounts spoke against the app, which was hosted on [[GitHub]] as an "open-source project." After multiple complaints, GitHub took the app down and suspended the "sullideals" 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}}</ref>

This was not the first time Muslim women were harassed by right-wing social media users. In May 2021, a YouTuber named Liberal Doge "rated out of 10" Pakistani women in his livestream and some group of anonymous accounts harassed Hasiba Amin, the National Convenor of [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] IT Cell.<ref>{{cite news |title=Indian YT Channel Streams Eid Photos of Pak Women, Spews Misogyny |url=https://www.thequint.com/neon/gender/pakistani-women-eid-photos-misogyny-youtube |work=TheQuint |date=14 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref> According to analysts, the same group of people were behind the Sulli Deals app. However, Liberal Doge denied any connection with the Sulli Deals app.<ref>{{cite news |title=Muslim Women Were 'Auctioned Like Cattle' on a Hate Site |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/88ndgx/muslim-women-islamophobia-hate-app-india |work=www.vice.com |language=en}}</ref><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}}</ref>

==Reaction==
Commentators have described the app as targeted harassment against Muslim women, with NCW taking [[suo moto]] cognizance over the matter and Delhi Police Cyber Cell registering an FIR under section 354-A.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sulli Deals Cyberbullying Row: All About The 'Auction' Harassment Of Women |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/auction-muslim-women-sulli-deals-cyberbullying-github-delhi-fir/ |work=Shethepeople.tv}}</ref> One of the targeted women, pilot Hina Khan, filed a separate FIR with Delhi Police under section 509 and section 66,67 of [[Information Technology Act, 2000|the IT Act]]. [[Shiv Sena]] MP [[Priyanka Chaturvedi]] wrote to the IT minister demanding strict and urgent action against the creators of the app.<ref>{{cite news |title=Priyanka Chaturvedi: Take urgent actions in Sulli Deals case; Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi writes to IT minister|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/take-urgent-actions-in-sulli-deals-case-sena-mp-priyanka-chaturvedi-writes-to-it-minister/articleshow/84891207.cms |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> In addition, 56 MPs across party lines signed a letter to the home minister [[Amit Shah]] seeking redressal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Have urged Amit Shah to arrest those guilty in 'Sulli deals': Congress MP |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sulli-deals-congress-mp-md-jawaid-urges-amit-shah-to-punish-guilty-7425292/ |work=The Indian Express |date=27 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

Congress MP [[Shashi Tharoor]] and [[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen|AIMIM]] president [[Asaduddin Owaisi]] showed solidarity with the targeted women and assured that they would pursue the case to prevent further misuse of social media.<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}}</ref> More than 800 women-rights activists from all over India released a statement seeking action against the culprits.<ref>{{cite news |title='Act of Intimidation and Harm': Rights Activists on 'Sulli Deals' App Targeting Muslim Women |url=https://thewire.in/women/sulli-deals-muslim-women-cyber-harassment-statement |work=The Wire}}</ref>

Both GitHub and Twitter were criticized for failing to prevent further harassment of Muslim women after the auction fiasco and not taking quick action against the sullideals account.<ref>{{cite news |title='Sulli deals': 3 weeks on, no response from GitHub, police in the dark |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/sulli-deals-3-weeks-on-no-response-from-github-police-in-the-dark-7423483/ |work=The Indian Express |date=26 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Muslim women being 'auctioned' on social media, Congress leader named files complaint |url=https://theprint.in/india/muslim-women-being-auctioned-on-social-media-congress-leader-named-files-complaint/659063/ |work=ThePrint |date=16 May 2021}}</ref> As of November 2021, the identity of the creator of the app was still unknown, with GitHub refusing to share data to Indian authorities through the usual CrPC notice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhandari |first1=Hemani |title=Probe in 'Sulli deals' case hits legal hurdle |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/probe-in-sulli-deals-case-hits-legal-hurdle/article35987910.ece |work=The Hindu |date=19 August 2021 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

On 6 January 2022, the [[Delhi Police]] said they were looking for the actual creator of the app through MLAT.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhandari |first1=Hemani |title='Sulli Deals' probe: Delhi police say they want to catch big fish |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/sulli-deals-probe-delhi-police-say-they-want-to-catch-big-fish/article38140644.ece |work=The Hindu |date=6 January 2022 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bulli Bai: Sulli Deals 2.0? All You Need To Know About The Online 'Auction' Of Muslim Women |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-bulli-bai-sulli-deals-20-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-online-auction-of-muslim-women/408040 |work=Outlook India magazine |language=en}}</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}}</ref>

==Arrest==
In January 2022, Delhi police arrested the creator of Sulli Deals, in 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}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
In 2022, a similar app named [[Bulli Bai case|Bulli Bai]] was created to auction Muslim women, in which the same Trad group was involved. Police arrested Neeraj Bishnoi, an engineering student, in the case.<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}}</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}}</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}}</ref>

In March 2022, Niraj Bishnoi was granted bail by the court.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/prolongeddelhi-court-grants-bail-to-github-case-accused-niraj-bishnoi-7842786/ | title='Prolonged incarceration detrimental to his career': Delhi court grants bail to GitHub case accused | date=30 March 2022 }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}{{Sexual abuse}}
[[Category:2021 in India]]
[[Category:July 2021 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:2021 controversies]]
[[Category:Sexual harassment in India]]
[[Category:Cybercrime in India]]
[[Category:Cyberbullying]]
[[Category:2021 in Internet culture]]
[[Category:Islam in India]]
[[Category:Islamophobia in India]]
[[Category:Indian websites]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2021]]
[[Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2021]]
[[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]]

Sulli Deals - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article