Andin, not her real name, is a student at the Gorontalo State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN). She said the mask helped cover half her face so people would not easily recognize her.

Campus life has not been peaceful for Andin ever since she decided to tell Humanika, the Gorontalo IAIN student press website, about a rape attempt by her lecturer, identified as MM. Humanika did not mention her identity but students and lecturers figured out that it was Andin.

Although Andin has been supported by her family, friends and women’s rights organizations, many of her fellow students do not see her as a victim and have started calling her MM’s mistress. Some lecturers have repeatedly asked her whether she enjoyed the assault or whether she lied about it.

After her case was publicized, MM was fired by the university. Gorontalo IAIN rector Lahaji Haedar said MM was fired because the issue “had created disorder” on campus.

“At that time, there was a demonstration by students and we also got pressure from other groups outside the campus,” Lahaji told The Jakarta Post.

The decision was applauded by many. But many others kept bullying Andin.

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