Calls to ban TikTok in India after video said to be 'glamourising' acid attacks goes viral

Thousands of people in India are calling for TikTok to be banned after a widely circulated video said to promote acid attacks was shared on the social media site.

It was shared by Faizal Siddiqui, who has more than 13 million followers on TikTok.

In the sketch, he is seen questioning a woman after a break-up.

“Did he leave you? The one you left me for?” Siddiqui asks, before throwing liquid in her face.

The woman is then seen wearing make-up mimicking acid burns.

The lyrics of the song played towards the end in the background are “You will cry”.

The video has caused a mass outcry with people claiming it glorifies acid attacks, leading to people calling for TikTok to be banned in the country using the hashtag #bantiktokinindia, which is now trending.

“This person ‘Faizal’ promoting Acid Attacks on the app should be enough of a reason to #BanTikTokInIndia,” reads one tweet.

Another says: “TikTok star Faizal Siddiqui promotes using acid attack as revenge for jilted lover. Police complaint filed ....#BanTikTokInIndia #FaizalSiddiqui”

The National Commission for Women in India has also written to police to file an official complaint against the video.

The organisation’s chairwoman, Rekha Sharma, said in a tweet: “Written to @DGPMaharashtra DGP  to take action against #FaizalSiddiqui. Also wrote to @TikTok_IN to block this person from the platform, though they have deleted the video  from it after a call from @NCWIndia.”

Many other people have shared screenshots on Twitter showing police complaint reports made against the video, which has now been deleted from TikTok.

A spokesperson for the video sharing site told The National: ""Keeping people on TikTok safe is a top priority and we make it clear in our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines that clearly outlines what is not acceptable on our platform. As per the policy, we do not allow content that risks the safety of others, promotes physical harm or glorifies violence against women. The behaviour in question violates our guidelines and we have taken down the content, suspended the account, and are working with law enforcement agencies as appropriate."

It is not the first time people have been accused of "glamourising" acid attacks on the video-sharing platform. Earlier this year, actress Deepika Padukone faced a backlash after asking TikTok make-up influencer @faby_makeupartist to recreate three of her "favourite looks", including the character she played in film Chhapaak, who was the victim of an acid attack.

Many fans saw the challenge as insensitive, tweeting their anger at the video.

“No @deepikapadukone. This promo isn’t cool or cute. It’s insensitive & ghastly. The movie wasn’t about you & your make up. It was about a woman scarred for life. And victims like her, whose marks can’t be wiped off, unlike your make up.”