German professor apologises for rejecting student for 'rape problem' in India

University teacher refused to grant an internship to an Indian student, causing public outrage

INDIA: A University of Leipzig professor, whose refusal to grant an internship to an Indian student because of his country's "rape problem" caused public outrage, issued an apology for her statements, The Times of India reported. 

“I have made a mistake,” German Professor Annette Beck-Sickinger said, according to a statement uploaded on the website of the German embassy in India. “I sincerely apologise to everyone whose feelings I have hurt," she added.

Read: A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy, says Delhi bus rapist

Her rejection email to the student opened with the line, “Unfortunately I don’t accept any Indian male students for internships,” and went viral on Sunday. “We hear a lot about the rape problem in India which I cannot support,” the email continued. “I have many female students in my group, so this attitude is something I cannot support," her email concluded.

Read: Ban on Delhi gang-rape documentary stirs fierce debate in India

Uproar was caused among Indian citizens and the rejection also drew the attention of Michael Steiner, Germany's ambassador to India.

“Let me make it clear at the outset that I strongly object to this,” Steiner said in a letter to Beck-Sickinger. The ambassador commended India’s “lively, honest, sustained and very healthy public debate” around sexual violence, and the government’s commitment to dealing with the problem.

“Let’s be clear: India is not a country of rapists,” the letter continued adding that “I would encourage you to learn more about the diverse, dynamic and fascinating country and the many welcoming and open-minded people of India so that you could correct a simplistic image, which — in my opinion — is particularly unsuitable for a professor and teacher.”

Read: Indian govt threatens BBC over broadcast of Delhi rape film 

After the documentary pertaining to the Delhi gang rape case of 2012 was banned from being broadcast by the Indian government, the widespread issue of sexual assault has become a sensitive issue in South Asia.

Many took to Twitter to share their views on the professor's actions.

Dumbest prof. of Germany annette beck-sickinger

— vasanth joshua (@kuttybrain) March 10, 2015

@UniLeipzig Annette G Beck-Sickinger is d perfect example of when prof. should study more abt various cultures rather than comment on their

— shwetabh mathur (@shwetabh2) March 10, 2015

https://twitter.com/mrangar/status/575065115453583360