An Indian Muslim student refused to accept the gold medal at the Pondicherry University to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which has caused uproar in India and sparked protests across the country.
Rabeeha Abdurehim, who secured the first position in the post-graduate department of Mass Communication, said she was asked to come out of the hall where the convocation was taking place. The special superintendent of police wanted to speak to the student.
Rabeeha remarked that the police were worried about her viewpoint on the controversial citizenship law.
“When I asked the police officers why was I not being allowed to take part in the event, they said they were not sure but the SSP wanted it this way,” she claimed.
Taking to social media Rabeeha wrote that while she often dreamt about the moment she would receive a gold medal, “never did I imagine it would end up being in a way in which I could send a strong peaceful message across India.”
“As a woman, as a student, as an Indian, today in my graduation I reject the Gold medal that is awarded to me in solidarity with all the students and public of India who are fighting against CAA and NRC in India,” she wrote further.
Under the CAA 2019, religious minorities that have taken refuge in India till 2014 are eligible for citizenship. However, the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB 2019) makes it a point to exclude Muslims. The law requires Indian Muslims to prove their origins in India otherwise they stand to lose their citizenship.
