Sulli Deals: App puts Muslim women on ‘online auction’, ignites strong reactions; FIR lodged

New Delhi: The Delhi Police Special Cell has booked the creators of a mobile Application named ‘Sulli Deals’ which allegedly uploaded images of Muslim women without their prior consent and used inappropriate remarks against them.

‘Sulli Deals’ was developed as an online app where stolen image of hundreds of Muslim women were posted and then they were put up for ‘online auction’. However, after strong controversy and uproar, the site and application has been taken down.

How is this acceptable? What will be the punishment, if any, meted out to the people who made this list? Muslim men are lynched, Muslim women are harassed and sold online. When will this end? @github @NCWIndia

— Fatima Khan (@khanthefatima) July 5, 2021

The matter came to light after a Twitter user shared screenshots from GitHub, which hosted ‘Sulli Deals’ – a website that shared pictures of Muslim women, labelling them as the ‘Deal of the Day’.

“Acting on a complaint received on National Cybercrime Reporting Portal regarding Sulli Deals Mobile Application, a case FIR under section 354-A of IPC has been registered by Cyber Crime Unit on July 7 and investigation has been taken up. Notices have been sent to GitHub to share the relevant details,” said Delhi Police.

Filed an FIR.
I’m resolute and firm in getting these cowards to pay for what they have done.
These repeat offences will not be taken sitting down.
Do your worse. I will do mine.
I am a non-political account targeted because of my religion and gender.#sullideals pic.twitter.com/mvt20VWPqp

— Hana Mohsin Khan (@girlpilot_) July 7, 2021

NCW takes cognisance of Sulli Deals’ mischief

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo moto cognisance of “defunct website called ‘Sulli Deals’ on an internet platform named ‘Ghithub’ that was uploading pictures of many Muslim women including journalists, activists, analysts, artists and researchers with derogatory remarks and had put them up for auction.”

The NCW chairperson wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner, demanding a thorough probe into the matter and filing FIR under relevant sections.

DCW demands ‘police action report’ by July 14

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has also issued notice to Delhi Police seeking a detailed report in the matter pertaining to pictures of Muslim women being uploaded and circulated on an internet platform ‘GitHub’ and the use of derogatory terms against them.

Issued Notice to Police on a very serious matter of cyber crime where pictures of several Muslim women were displayed online without their consent and termed as ‘Sulli Deal of the day’. FIR should be registered and strong action should be taken. #SulliDeals pic.twitter.com/MyvKGTsvJ1

— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) July 7, 2021

DCW chief Swati Maliwal wrote, “It has been reported that the photos of hundreds of Muslim women and girls were uploaded by an unidentified group on an app using GitHub – by the name of ‘Sulli Deals’ – on Sunday, July 4, wherein these girls were presented as the ‘deal of the day’ for others, and derogatory words were used against them.”