Uproar After Dozens of Indian Muslim Women 'Auctioned' on the 'Bulli Bai' App

Photos of more than a hundred Indian Muslim women went viral on a social media platform, GitHub, a software-sharing platform, where they were sourced without their permission, seemingly in a bid to target and harass them.

India's federal Information Technology (IT) Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tweeted on Saturday evening that the GitHub user behind the 'Bulli Bai' app, where Muslim women were being "auctioned" online, had been blocked and "further action" was being taken.

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

On Saturday, a number of Indian Muslim women took to Twitter highlighting how their photos were being used on the 'Bulli Bai' app. The app was allegedly found auctioning photos of multiple Muslim women.

It is very sad that as a Muslim woman you have to start your new year with this sense of fear & disgust. Of course it goes without saying that I am not the only one being targeted in this new version of #sullideals. Screenshot sent by a friend this morning.

Happy new year. pic.twitter.com/pHuzuRrNXR

— Ismat Ara (@IsmatAraa) January 1, 2022

There are many Muslim names,including mine,in the obnoxious #BulliDeals , same as #SulliDeals
Even Najeeb's mother has not been spared. It's a reflection on India's broken justice system, a dilapidated law n order arrangement. Are we becoming the most unsafe country for women?

— Sayema (@_sayema) January 1, 2022

The collective anger of Muslim women you're witnessing on your timelines today comes from a place of deep anguish-- of being exoticised, demonised, and patronised, all at once. Experiences ranging from being constantly talked down upon, to being sold online. #BulliDeals

— Fatima Khan (@khanthefatima) January 1, 2022

The first day of “Happy New Year” started with disgusting auction of Muslim women on #BulliDeals

It’s neither Happy nor New Year! Every day the Muslims wake up to the same old India. Every single day they fight back with @DelhiPolice doing nothing.
In solidarity @HasibaAmin ! pic.twitter.com/tBSENTgBgb

— Dr Pooja Tripathi (@Pooja_Tripathii) January 2, 2022

After the news broke and started spreading quickly, a member of parliament from the Shiv Sena Party, Priyanka Chaturvedi, raised concern with the Mumbai police regarding the matter and demanded that the culprits be arrested as soon as possible.

The first day of “Happy New Year” started with disgusting auction of Muslim women on #BulliDeals

It’s neither Happy nor New Year! Every day the Muslims wake up to the same old India. Every single day they fight back with @DelhiPolice doing nothing.
In solidarity @HasibaAmin ! pic.twitter.com/tBSENTgBgb

— Dr Pooja Tripathi (@Pooja_Tripathii) January 2, 2022

Ismat Ara, a journalist with the online platform The Wire, who is among one of the women named in the app, also filed a complaint with the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police.

UPDATE: A complaint has been filed by me with the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police for immediate registration of FIR and consequent action against people behind the auctioning of Muslim women on social media. #sullideals #BulliDeals @DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/oX3ROLEgv1

— Ismat Ara (@IsmatAraa) January 1, 2022

This comes months after photographs of hundreds of Muslim women were uploaded to a similar app ‘Sulli deals’, where they were auctioned "for sale". "Sulli" is derogatory slang used by some Hindus to describe Muslim women.

The app was first noticed by women who found their profiles - posted without their consent - promoted on social media, describing them as "deals of the day". Although police complaints have been filed, no arrests have been made in the case so far. The app was taken down following outrage on social media.