Union IT Minister fails to take action against those targeting Muslim women online

Union Information and Technology (IT) Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw yesterday stated that GitHub, the hosting platform for an app targeting 100 influential Muslim women, offering them for auction, has been blocked.

While the Minister has announced that the application has been blocked, there are demands from various quarters to take appropriate legal action against those behind the criminal act.

On opening the app, a Muslim woman’s face is randomly displayed and the viewer is asked to quote a price for her.

Vaishnaw on Sunday tweeted: “Govt. of India is working with police organisations in Delhi and Mumbai on this matter.”

A day earlier Vaishnaw tweeted, “GitHub confirmed blocking the user this morning itself. CERT and Police authorities are coordinating further action”. He did not elaborate on the action being taken.

Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Priyanka Chaturvedi has raised the matter with th Mumbai and Maharashtra police, demanding the arrest of the culprits, who have created the app. She tweeted, “Have spoken to CP Mumbai Police and DCP Crime Rashmi Karandikarji. They will investigate this. Have also spoken to DGP Maharashtra for intervention. Hoping those behind such misogynistic and sexist sites are apprehended.” Chaturvedi has expressed satisfaction that the Mumbai Police Commissioner and Maharashtra Director General of Police have assured appropriate action in the matter.

She said that she has repeatedly asked the IT Minister to take appropriate action against the creators of such apps, but “it is a shame that it continues to be ignored. Last, July, Chaturvedi had written to Vaishnaw about another similar app, Sullideals, she got a reply to her complaint in November stating that the app has been blocked.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, alleged on Sunday that fringe elements targeting Muslim women have official patronage. She tweeted, “Appalling that the criminals behind such derogatory and demeaning actions against Muslim women are given a free run.”