When it comes to acid attacks on women, India tops the charts. Even though the sale of acid over the counter was banned in 2013, our country still has many cases where women are attacked with acid.
Other than dowry and domestic violence, women rejecting the proposal of jolted lovers is also a reason behind acid attacks. Recently released movie Chhapaak, where Deepika Padukone played the lead, was based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi. She had paid the price of rejecting a proposal of an obsessive lover.
While there was a lot of discussion about acid attacks, but it seems some people are totally heart-less. Rather than spreading awareness about the acid-attacks, a young social media influencer with almost 13 million followers, glorified acid attacks, and crime against women in one of his viral videos.
The video was put by Faizal Siddiqui, a popular TikToker with over 13.4M followers. Though a cyber complaint has been filed against Faizal Siddiqui, we wonder how could he promote acid attacks on women to his followers.
Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey, who starred in Chhapaak took to social to express his anguish:
I saw this in the morning. I really didn’t know how to react. I still don’t know how to.
But my heart burns. Sad, maybe. Maybe angry.
But when we casually end up doing things like these, it shows that there is something majorly wrong with us. https://t.co/zlFMerabzu
— Vikrant Massey (@masseysahib) May 18, 2020
Like Vikrant Massey, many others have expressed their disgust over the video which has been reported to the National Commission for Women (NCW) for showcasing such depictions of violence against women.
To @MumbaiPolice @MahaCyber1 @CPMumbaiPolice @AnilDeshmukhNCP.
I lodged a complaint against #FaizalSiddiqui having 2.6M+ followers on @TikTok_IN.
-Posted Objectionable Videos on Tiktok, The videos give a message, if any girl denied accepting the proposal throw acid on her face. pic.twitter.com/2kjK1cDm67— Adv. Ashutosh J Dubey (@iamashu123) May 17, 2020
The fact that people find this shit entertaining or funny is exactly where the problem lies.
— ss #stayathome (@s5ingh) May 18, 2020
@AmitShah
Matter of women’s security.
URGENT and IMPORTANT
????????????Pls investigate and do the needful.
These type of influencers are dangerous.????— LAKSHMI SREEKUMAR (@LAKSHMISREEKUM3) May 17, 2020
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) letter read:
“The Commission is seriously concerned about the increase in crimes against women. The video not only seems to promote violence against women but shows the patriarchal mindset which would send a very wrong message to the society.”
@NCWIndia have contacted Tik-Tok India @TikTok_IN to remove the video & delete the account of #FaizalSiddiqui that instigate committing violence against women. pic.twitter.com/1QMHpUgQs8
— NCW (@NCWIndia) May 18, 2020
As per Indiatimes, TikTok has removed Faizal Siddiqui’s video from the platform.
But the problem is not only with this particular video. It is the presence of many such videos on the TikTok platform. From promoting acid attack to abuse, there is no dearth of shameful content on the platform. One such other shameful content promoting rape is:
After promoting acid and love jihad ,
Tiktok’er Mujibur rehman and co are showing off how cool is to r@pe a woman ….. scums
also see his expression while he pulls up his pant zip in the end !!#BanTikTokInIndia pic.twitter.com/sBW6ScAyvR
— Adi (@Adithya2585) May 18, 2020
I am of the strong openion that this @TikTok_IN should be banned totally and will be writting to GOI. It not only has these objectionable videos but also pushing youngsters towards unproductive life where they are living only for few followers and even dying when no. Decline. https://t.co/MyeuRbjZAy
— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) May 19, 2020
Also Read: Inspiring Stories Of Acid Attack Survivors Rebuilding Their Lives
At IFORHER, we couldn’t agree more with Rekha Sharma on banning the platform that promotes objectionable videos to millions of young minds. It is heartbreaking that while many of us are working hard to build a progressive society, such videos going viral defeat the whole purpose.