A 10-month-old getting rape threats just because his father took a stand for his fellow cricketer is another reminder of our toxic misogyny among men. Recently, Virat Kohli stood up for his fellow cricketer Mohammad Shami, who was abused online after India’s defeat to Pakistan. While Kohli did the right thing, he hardly knew that his daughter would have to bear the brunt of his stand.
What happened?
In a disturbing incident, rape threats were directed towards Vamika, daughter of Indian team captain Virat Kohli and leading actress Anushka Sharma. She is ONLY 10 months old.
अनुष्का और विराट की बेटी अभी सिर्फ़ 10 महीने की है लेकिन क्या आप यक़ीन करेंगे कि इस नन्हीं सी बच्ची को खुलेआम रेप की धमकी दी जा रही है
जानते हैं क्यों ?
क्योंकि विराट ने #MohammadShami के पक्ष में कहा और धार्मिक भेदभाव को ग़लत ठहराया
7 साल में ये नया भारत बनाया है मोदी ने pic.twitter.com/pktZoJiajL— Vinod Kapri (@vinodkapri) October 31, 2021
Multiple people posted the screenshot of the threat, and called it out on social media:
Vamika is 9 months old daughter of Virat Kohli and check how they are issuing r@pe threats to her.Shocking and shameful pic.twitter.com/DTk9KdThZv
— Sheldon Cooper (@Bazingaa_aaa) October 31, 2021
Giving Rape Threats to a 10 months old,is probably the most shamefull thing an Indian could do….!!
— Shruti Sharma🇮🇳 (@SS_2803) November 2, 2021
Your opinions may differ, even I opposed #ViratKohli on some things but trolling and abusing #vamika is really really dirty…!! #StopThisShit
TW:
— Mehreen. (@iMehreenAlam) October 31, 2021
Vamika is 9 months old. Getting r*pe threats because her father did bare minimum. Opposed communal hatred. pic.twitter.com/hNLab5Pz5r
Allegedly, once the Twitter account tweeting the rape threats was called out, the user tried to change his location to Pakistan. But as per a report by Quint, this isn’t the first time that this user has issued such threats, and later, changed his profile to shirk off suspicion.
6 months/6 different handles
— Sakshi Joshi (@sakshijoshii) November 2, 2021
Has also had a conversation in Telugu
Past location has also been Tokyo
Probably when he got scared of being noticed , he changed it to the location that would give him impunity -that is Pakistan 🤷🏽♀️ https://t.co/4J8YvBKO2s pic.twitter.com/bgMHeX27j2
It is disgusting how anyone can think of targeting a child with such threats. But, what is even worse is how rape threats have become so common on social media. In the past, Dhoni’s five-year-old daughter was also targeted when his team CSK failed to perform at IPL. This practice, of attacking children for the actions of their parents (over which they have little to no control) needs to stop.
As per the latest information, the Delhi Women Commission has asked the police authorities to arrest all the people involved in making such threats. The account in question has been deleted.
