The arrivals hall at Beirut's airport. (Credit: Illustrative photo by Mohammad Yassine/L'OLJ)
Four days after a Lebanese woman said she was racially abused by a General Security officer at Beirut’s international airport, disciplinary measures were taken against the officer, according to information sent to L'Orient-Le Jour.
In a video posted to her Instagram account Friday, Lebanese artist and filmmaker Lama el-Amine — whose mother is of African origin — described the incident as a “racist” and “humiliating” experience that left her in “deep pain and great frustration.” She added that this was “neither the first nor the second time” she had faced such treatment.
Amine recounted that while waiting in line to have her passport stamped, an officer shouted at her in a “loud, vulgar and degrading tone,” saying: “Hey! You, the Ethiopian! You’re in the wrong line!” She initially ignored the remark, but the officer continued: “Hey! You! Take off your headphones and listen to me, the Ethiopian. You’re in the wrong line.”
She responded: “First, I am Lebanese. Second, not all Black people are Ethiopian, and not all Lebanese are necessarily white. What’s bothering you? Why can’t you accept someone who doesn’t look like you?” She said the officer then gestured for her to be quiet.
Reached by L’Orient-Le Jour on Friday, General Security said it was following up on the case and had opened an investigation. By Monday, a source within the agency confirmed the facts and said “appropriate disciplinary measures” were taken against the officer. The source declined to specify what those measures were, citing the “internal and confidential” nature of the procedure.
“This is the first time General Security has received a complaint involving racist behavior by one of its officers at the airport,” the source added.
'My voice was heard'
Amine’s video sparked a wave of outrage on social media, with many Lebanese expressing shame and anger over the officer’s conduct.
In a follow-up Instagram post on Monday, she thanked supporters and acknowledged the agency’s response: “My voice was heard. Thank you to everyone who stood by my side. I’m grateful to General Security for taking swift action.”
Amine is not alone in speaking out. Lebanese track and field champion Aziza Sbaity, whose mother is Liberian, has also spoken about being subjected to racist treatment, particularly at government offices. She has said she was once accused at immigration of “stealing” a Lebanese passport.
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