'Rape culture' leads Leipzig Prof to deny Indian student internship, German envoy jumps to defence

Germany Ambassador to India Michael Steiner on Monday rallied to the support of an Indian student denied internship by a Leipzig University professor due to the 'rape problem' in the country, terming the rejection as 'unfair'.

In his letter to Professor Annette G. Beck-Sickinger, Steiner raised his objections to the denial, pointing out that the problem of rape existed worldwide, including Germany.

"It has been brought to my attention that you denied an internship to a male Indian student, giving the 'rape problem in India' as a reason. Let me make clear from the very onset that I strongly object to this," said Steiner's letter, shared on his official twitter page, read.

"The 2012 Nirbhaya rape case has refocused attention on the issue of violence against women. Rape is indeed a serious issue in India as in most countries, including Germany. In India, the Nirbhaya case has triggered lively, honest, sustained and very healthy public debate - a public debate of a quality that wouldn't be possible in many other countries," he added.

Steiner also accused Beck-Sickinger of 'oversimplifying and discriminating generalisation'.

"Your oversimplifying and discriminating generalisation is an offence to women and men ardently committed to furthering women's empowerment in India; and is an offence to millions of law-abiding, tolerant, open-minded and hard-working Indians. Let's be clear: India is not a country of rapists," he wrote.

Earlier, the student was denied internship because of the 'rape problem' in India, an 'attitude' Beck-Sickinger said she cannot support.

"Unfortunately I don't accept any Indian male students for internships. We hear a lot about the rape problem in India which I cannot support. I have many female friends in my group, so I think this attitude is something I cannot support," she wrote, while rejecting his candidature.