May 18, 2019

Andrew Campbell 

The world's biggest online retailer Amazon.com faced a social media backlash in India on May 16 after toilet seat covers and other items emblazoned with images of Hindu gods were spotted on its U.S. retailing website.

Thousands of Twitter users backed the call to boycott Amazon, making #BoycottAmazon India’s top trending topic on Twitter. Some tagged India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, urging her to take action against Amazon.
Amazon had removed those items from its online store, and released a statement: “All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.”

The episode is reminiscent of an incident that occurred in 2017 when the Indian government took Amazon to task after its Canadian website sold doormats resembling India’s flag.
Minister Swaraj at the time threatened to rescind visas of Amazon employees if the doormats were not removed from its website.

On Amazon’s U.S. website several listings of rugs, sneakers, toilet seat covers, yoga mats and other items portraying Hindu gods, or sacred Hindu symbols were found according to a report by Reuters. But, some items were no longer available for purchase, suggesting that Amazon had withdrawn those as it did in 2017.

Photo:Webshot.