Discrimination: Muslim student denied entry in convocation, rejects gold medal

• During the convocation of Pondicherry University, Rabeeha was escorted out of the convocation hall by the police.
• Rabeeha says she was denied entry into the convocation solely because she is a Muslim and wears a head scarf.
• Rabeeha rejected the gold medal to protest against the Citizenship Law and in a show of solidarity with those students who raised voice against the controversial law.

(Karachi) A student, a gold medalist in postgraduate degree in mass communication at Pondicherry University, was denied entry into the convocation for being a Muslim, Indian media reported on Tuesday.

Rabeeha Abdul Karim, who hailed from Kerala State, had completed her Masters degree from the university and won a gold medal for her outstanding performance.

However, during the convocation of Pondicherry University, Rabeeha was escorted out of the convocation hall by the police prior to the arrival of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.

Rabeeha told the media persons that she was denied entry into the convocation solely because she is a Muslim and wears a head scarf.

She said when Kovind arrived, he awarded medals and certificates among the students but she was not conferred the gold medal as she was denied participation in the event.

Later, when Kovind left the convocation, the organizers invited Rabeeha to take the gold medal. In protest against the discriminatory behaviour, Rabeeha rejected the proposal and did not take the medal.

She told the organizers, “I am not taking the gold medal to protest against the Citizenship Law. I stand with those students who raised voice and protested against the discriminatory law.”

Several people have been killed in clashes between police and protesters since the Indian parliament passed the controversial law on December 11, with critics saying it discriminates against Muslims and undermines India's secular constitution.

The backlash is the strongest show of dissent against Modi's government since he was first elected in 2014.

Demonstrations continued despite curfews and a draconian regulation to shut down protests.

India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, has seen the worst violence with nine people killed so far and several more in critical conditions in hospital.

More demonstrations are planned in several parts of the country, including in the northeastern state of Assam, where residents are angry that the law makes it easier for non-Muslim migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who settled in India prior to 2015 to obtain Indian citizenship.