In what appears to be a direct international fallout of the numerous rapes being reported from India, a student who had applied to a German university for admission has reportedly been turned down by a professor of the Leipzig University citing the rape culture in India.

The first email that the student was sent. Twitter The first email that the student was sent. Twitter

If the screenshots of two emails, posted originally on Quora and later on Twitter, are to be believed, a professor from the Leipzig University - identified in one screenshot as Annette Beck Sickinger of the Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University - turned down the student saying, "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 students in my group, so I think this attitude is something I cannot support, [SIC]"

The second email that the professor from the Leipzig University sent the student. Twitter The second email that the professor from the Leipzig University sent the student. Twitter

When the applicant reportedly mailed the professor saying that this was generalisation, the professor reportedly wrote back saying, "I fully agree that this is a generalisation and may not apply to individuals. However, it is also unbelievable that the Indian society is not able to solve this problem for many years now. Reports reach Germany on a weekly base, and especially these "multi-rape crimes" are threatening, but for me also demonstrate the attitude of a society towards women. Also female tourists are kidnapped by groups of males and then abused.

"Many female professors in Germany decided to no longer accept male Indian students for these reasons, and currently other European female association are joining. Of course we cannot change or influence the Indian society, but only take our consequences here in Europe."

The third screenshot offered for the verification of the email address, reveals the name of the professor as well. Quora The third screenshot offered for the verification of the email address, reveals the name of the professor as well. Quora

The three screenshots of the email have gone viral on twitter with many people asking if it is true or not and others demanding that MEA take up the issue with the German ambassador.

Soon after reports of this came out, the German ambassador to India, Michael Steiner, wrote a scathing letter to Professor Sickinger condemning the refusal of internship to the student.

In his letter, Steiner wrote, "It has been brought to my attention that you denied an intemship to a male Indian student, giving "the rape problem in India" as a reason. Let me make it clear at the outset that I strongly object to this.

"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 a lively honest, sustained and very healthy public debate - a public debate of a quality that wouldn't be possible in many other countries. The Indian Government and Indian civil society organisations are very committed to tackling the issue.

"Yesterday we celebrated International Women's Day at the German Embassy here in Delhi with many local activists including many men. Your oversimplifying and discriminating generalization is an offense to these women and men ardently committed to furthering women empowennenti n India; and it is an offense to millions of law-abiding, tolerant, open-minded and hard-working Indians. Let's be clear: India is not a country of rapists.



German ambassador Michael Steiner's letter to Professor Sickinger. Courtesy: india.diplo.de German ambassador Michael Steiner's letter to Professor Sickinger. Courtesy: india.diplo.de

"I would encourage you to leam more about the diverse, dynamic and fascinating country and the many welcoming and open-minded people of India so that you could conect a simplistic image, which - in my opinion - is particularly unsuitable for a professor and teacher."

Meanwhile, in another screenshot that was uploaded to reddit, the professor, after being chastised by the student for having used such "hurtful words", wrote, "I fully agree, I will no longer respond to e-mails of that type. Hoever this is too late now and I just can learn for the future [SIC]".