German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner

Reacting to a news report about a professor from Leipzig University refusing internship to an Indian student because of the country's "rape problem", the German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner, has written to Professor Annette Beck-Sickinger saying that India is not a country of rapists.

In her refusal to the male student, Professor Sickinger of the Institute of Biochemistry had refused the student citing the rape culture in India and had also said that many female professors across Europe were turning down male students from India.

In his letter to Professor Sickinger, Ambassador Steiner wrote:

"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 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 empowerment in 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.

"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 conect a simplistic image, which - in my opinion - is particularly unsuitable for a professor and teacher."