Dozens of Indian Muslim women offered for sale online

NEW DELHI: Police are investigating how dozens of Muslim women were offered for sale in fake “auctions" online without their knowledge, in a case the victims say illustrates growing Islamophobia across the country.

Photos of more than 80 women were reportedly uploaded in recent weeks to GitHub, an open software development platform, under the title "Sulli deal of the day". "Sulli" is derogatory slang for Muslim women.

Hana Mohsin Khan, an airline pilot, was alerted last week by a friend who directed her to a link that led to a gallery of images of women.

"The fourth picture was mine. They were literally auctioning me as their slave for the day," Khan told AFP.

"It sends chills down my spine. From that day till today, I am just in a constant state of anger," she said.

GitHub said it had now suspended the users´ accounts, saying they violated its policies on harassment, discrimination and inciting violence.

Delhi police have filed charges -- but against unknown persons because they do not know the identity of the perpetrators.