Journalist VP Rajeena, who is facing online abuse after post on child abuse
A young journalist in Kerala is facing online attacks and her Facebook page has been temporarily blocked after she shared her account of classmates being abused at a Madrassa when she was seven.
VP Rejeena, who works with a regional newspaper run by a hardline group, said in her post that at a Madrassa she went to in Kozhikode, an Ustaad or teacher called all the boys and touched them inappropriately. "First day of first class, the ustaad called boys and unzipped them, feeling them up at the wrong places," she wrote. When the boys tried to avoid the touching, writes Rejeena, the teacher told them he was "checking the size".
"As I moved to class 4, an Ustaad used to grope girls and poke them with a stick if there was a power cut at night. A girl even burst out once and threatened to report him," Rejeena shared.
She said several boys and girls were forced to quit because of the abuse.
Within hours of the controversial post, her Facebook page was suspended twice as it was reported for obscenity. The page has been restored today and Facebook told NDTV, "This was a technical error and we're sorry for the trouble it has caused."
Rejeena says she wanted to highlight that child abuse is not restricted to any institution or religion.
"My fight is not against any religion or any specific group. I spoke from my experience. It's not a one-off experience. How many children like me, including boys, have suffered this in silence? After my post there are people who have messaged me their experience. Men cannot dictate to women what we say or what we don't," Rejeena told NDTV.
Her post has provoked strong reactions on both sides of the debate.
On being abused and threatened in posts, Rejeena said: "I am not scared of any of these vitriolic comments and threats aimed at my personal life because I have truth and Allah is on my side."
Her post has provoked strong reactions on both sides of the debate.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said, "If Rejeena has any issues let her approach the police. There are several mechanisms in place by the social welfare department."
The police has not received any formal complaint but there are many voices being raised demanding a probe.
Danesh PK , a college student says, "It's not about a madrassa. It's about child abuse which could happen in any institution, even in families. It's our responsibility to make people aware and create safe environments, with the help of a strong political will."