Sulli and Bulli are highly derogatory slurs used to attack Muslim women, particularly those who are outspoken or politically active.
Background and Context
The gendered terms Sulli and Bulli emerged from online Hindu nationalist troll culture and are used to target Muslim women. The terms, which themselves lack a literal definition, drew international attention in 2021 and 2022 with the launch of the fake auction apps “Sulli Deals” and “Bulli Bai,” both hosted on GitHub.
They featured illegally-obtained photos of Muslim women and purported to offer them for sale in a virtual slave market format. The victims included journalists, students, activists, and vocal critics of Hindu nationalism. Such incidents reflect a disturbing pattern of digital hate campaigns rooted in Islamophobia and misogyny, which are designed to silence, intimidate, and denigrate Muslim women.
Impact and Harm
These slurs weaponize both gender and religion to target Muslim women with sexualized violence, harassment, and public humiliation. They are used to silence Muslim women, drive them out of digital and physical public spaces, and reinforce entrenched patterns of Islamophobia and misogyny.
Variants and Alternative Forms
सुल्ली बुल्ली
Online Usage
