BBC highlights Ain Husniza's cause as she reiterates rape is someone's trauma and not a joke

Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam (right) with her father Saiful Nizam Abdul Wahab.

PETALING JAYA: Student Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam's #MakeSchoolASaferPlace movement to end rape culture in schools, has garnered further international attention with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) chronicling her journey.

The 17-year-old's battle, which started after she called out her teacher's rape jokes in class, was captured in a two-minute, 50-second clip, where her father Saiful Nizam Abdul Wahab also appeared.

The teacher, who taught physical education, was referring to protections offered in Malaysia against rape and while doing so, he told his students, "So if you want to rape anyone, rape someone above 18".

Ain reported this to another teacher but was told off for being "emotional and sensitive", she revealed to the BBC.

"This thing is sensitive because it's a rape joke, somebody's trauma, how can I not be sensitive over it?" Ain said in the video.

Last month, the SMK Puncak Alam student made headlines after she took to social media to call out the teacher and even lodged a police report against him, as her brave move sent shockwaves all over the nation.

Many supported Ain's move to call out her teacher's behaviour, with some producing artwork and writing songs about her #MakeSchoolASaferPlace battle cry.

It also prompted others to come forward to share their own stories of sexual harassment.

"We have to stop this here. We have to educate. We want to change," said Ain in the video, which then panned into how she was also criticised on social media for being "too emotional" and not covering her aurat.

"We need to rectify this and come out from that kind of way of thinking," said Ain's father, her staunch supporter, in the video.

Ain then addressed the rape threat that she received from a classmate due to her actions, saying that it scared her so much that she cried.

She also talked about how she is being let down by the adults, particularly certain educators who "should know better than us 17 year olds".

Recently, a Facebook account belonging to her high school principal was caught leaving comments calling her a "devil's child", but the principal had denied that she was the one who posted them.

According to a statement by the Education Ministry, which came weeks after Ain's initial revelation, the principal suspected her Facebook account was hacked and that the teacher who made the joke had been transferred elsewhere while the matter was being investigated.

The video then focused on how Ain had not returned to school as she feels unsafe there.

Despite the price that Ain is paying for calling out rape culture, Saiful Nizam said that he is proud of his daughter.

"This little girl that I brought up from a baby – wow, she has this bravery all this while in her, I cannot express how proud I am," he said.