The internet is not a safe place for women, we all know that. The trolls have no limit and no fear of consequence, but today we saw a new low. Ziva Dhoni, 5, the daughter of former Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, received rape threats online after Chennai Super Kings lost their match in the ongoing Indian Premier League, reported News18.
In the comment section of MSD’s Instagram posts, there were several trolls who openly threatened Ziva with rape. Mind you, not one, not two but several comments were made in the same vein. All of this, only because CSK lost a match and their captain happens to be Ziva’s dad, MSD.
This online display of hatred against the female sex, mirrors the rape culture of the real world, where politicians victim-blame a woman who was raped and murdered.
Several Twitter users are expressing their utmost shock with the incident. In a country where a rape is reported every 16 minutes, this kind of online threat only perpetuates a deep-seated misogyny that refuses to go away. Netizens are calling out these trolls, however, it is very unlikely that it would actually make the trolls stop.
Just saw that Dhoni's 6-year-old daughter Ziva is getting rape and death threats because he didn't play well in #IPL2020
Do people realize what shithole we have become? Can you even imagine where we are heading as a country?
Morally dead and decayed nation! pic.twitter.com/tYF9CsMleY
— Aryan Srivastava (@aryansrivastav_) October 8, 2020
The fact that trolls are anonymous is their biggest weapon, so trolling has become a common menace. While it is extremely disturbing to think that a 5-year-old is getting such threats, it is also to be noted that crimes against women have risen over the past few years. According to data provided by the NCRB, an average of 87 rape cases were reported in India per day in 2019, which is only the tip of the iceberg as there are several cases that go unregistered. It is a horrific situation and there seems to be no solution to the sexual violence pandemic that has gripped India.
So shameful!
Source: Idiva
