With low regulation, easy registration process and direct publication, Amazon Kindle offers an attractive platform for young and amateur authors. However, this has led to a gross prevalence of inappropriate content and insensitive material. It has come to light that authors are publishing e-porn and rape fantasies which are extremely derogatory to women. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has written a letter to Amazon India to put an effective end to this.
According to journalist Swati Goal Sharma, “Amazon’s Kindle is full of e-books on porn literature and even rape fantasies featuring Muslim men and Hindu women. With titles like ‘Hindu wife’s affair with Muslim lover’, covers showing skull cap-wearing men & bindi-wearing women. Scores of books by dozens of authors.”
Amazon’s Kindle is full of e-books on porn literature & even rape fantasies featuring Muslim men & Hindu women. With titles like ‘Hindu wife’s affair with Muslim lover’, covers showing skull cap-wearing men & bindi-wearing women. Scores of books by dozens of authors.
Report soon pic.twitter.com/V5XTb7wLIS— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) December 28, 2020
In an utterly demeaning manner, a book published on Amazon Kindle says “Hindu wife becomes night treat for Muslim Mafia Don. The Don is amused and she gets used.”
In response to his shameful content, NCW has taken cognizance of the matter and said that they will “take all the measures to stop the transmission of any such content that may perpetrate and promote crime against women.”
@NCWIndia has taken cognizance of the matter. Chairperson @sharmarekha has addressed a letter to @amazonIN to take all the measures to stop the transmission of any such content that may perpetrate and promote crime against women. https://t.co/VO0u5McfMN
— NCW (@NCWIndia) December 28, 2020
In furtherance to this, NCW Chairman Rekha Sharma has written a letter to Amit Agarwal, Senior President Amazon & Country Manager, India which read, “The National Commission for Women has come across a Twitter post wherein it is alleged that Amazon’s Kindle contains e-books on porn literature and even rape fantasies. The Commission, in keeping with its mandate, proactive endeavours for the safety and security of women and further the interest of women as per the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.”
She further wrote, “It may be noted that the e-commerce website shall not be instrumental in the dissemination of pornographic and rape content as it violates provisions of law. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, it is requested that Amazon India shall take all measures to stop the transmission of such content that may perpetrate and promote crime against women and convey a wrong message to the society.”
Taken up. https://t.co/pVCgJZ5fD6 pic.twitter.com/TGJZPETx6N
— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) December 28, 2020
Most of these books were published in 2015, 2016 and 2017. It is utterly shocking that since the past five years, such demeaning material is available on an ostensibly reputed platform, corrupting the minds of the susceptible readers. Prompt action by the NCW is certainly going to go a long way in keeping these illicit publications at bay, helping keep the women of the country safe.