Calls to remove video of Canadian Sikh woman's killing gather steam
Darpan News Desk IANS, 31 May, 2023 01:34 PM
New Delhi, May 31 (IANS) Calls to remove a video circulating online of a Canadian Sikh woman whose gruesome killing was caught on camera, have been picking up steam with netizens urging social media giants to remove the graphic content.
Davinder Kaur, 43, was stabbed to death by her estranged husband Nav Nishan Singh in Sparrow Park, Brampton, on May 19.
Emergency crews found the mother of four with "obvious signs of trauma", who died on the spot despite attempts by paramedics to save her life.
Singh, who was arrested a short distance from the crime scene, has been charged with first-degree murder.
"Truly disturbing", professor and human rights activist Madhu Purnima Kishwar tweeted after the video went viral. Singh hurled profanities at Kaur and reportedly took video of her dying moments. The video shows her bleeding profusely in a creek after being attacked.
"Her (Kaur's) final moments of pure suffering have been shared around the world on social media for all to see and cringe in horror to," Ashis Basu, a Twitter user, wrote
"I am outraged that there is a video circulating on Twitter of Davinder Kaur in her dying moments in Brampton Park. Under no circumstances should this video be put out or watched or retweeted," Amardeep Kaur, associated with Toronto University, said on Twitter.
Amardeep said she repeatedly raised a concern with Twitter but the social media giant refused to take down the videos or even add sensitive content warning.
"I tried again in the "harassed/ intimidated with violence" category -- on note that the video celebrates and praises violent acts... Twitter still chose not to remove or even put a sensitive warning on them. It is such a horrific violation to the women that we can't get these brutal videos down," an anguished Amardeep said.
Twitter's policy on deceased individuals prohibits sharing excessively gruesome images or videos, or sharing media depicting a deceased individual for sadistic purposes.
It further says that sharing images or videos of a deceased individual can "cause serious distress to the deceased's family and can also negatively impact the well-being of others who view this content".
"It is a huge disservice to them and their families and it also causes such a huge desensitisation toward violence against women," Ananya, an Illustrator for Teen Vogue, said.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown told Global News that he is aware of the "harrowing video".
"It's very disappointing that a video as heinous as that would be available for viewing. I know the police took this very seriously -- they made their best efforts to have the video removed," he said.
While the news outlet reached out to both Twitter and Facebook, there was no response.
Kaur, according to her family, had been contemplating divorce from Singh who left her six months ago.
The two had been married for more than 20 years and had four children together with three living in Brampton and one in India.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this week Canada had a C-17 military plane in the region to help airlift Canadians out but so far has relied on other countries to find space on their planes or boats. On Tuesday Joly told Parliament 1,700 people had registered and 550 had asked for help.
Treasury Board President Mona Fortier says in a written statement today that she wants to make an agreement quickly, but the government won't sign an agreement that Canadians can't afford. The parties remain at the negotiating table while the strike continues.
B-C's Vancity credit union says Christine Bergeron is stepping down as president and C-E-O to take the top job at real estate company Concert Properties. The credit union says Bergeron will continue with Vancity until mid-July.
R-C-M-P say officers arrived at the building Saturday morning to find a man lying on the ground unconscious with severe injuries. The man was taken to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Mounties and representatives with the B-C-A-A spent Monday morning watching drivers on westbound Lougheed Highway at Phillips Avenue. B-C drivers are required to slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped alongside the road that have flashing red, blue or yellow lights.
As of June 1st, visitors to 31 city parks will be able to drink there year-round, while 16 parks will allow alcoholic beverage consumption from July 1st to August 31st each year. Further, people visiting seven of Vancouver's beaches between June 1st and September 4th will be able to consume alcohol while there.
