Joseph Aoun personally contacts Lama al-Amine following racist incident at Beirut airport

Lama al-Amine, who was the victim of racist remarks on Friday at Beirut airport by a General Security officer, stated on Tuesday that the president, Joseph Aoun, "contacted her personally to listen to her and express his regrets following the incident."

"President Joseph Aoun called me personally to express his regrets regarding what happened to me. He assured me that further measures would be taken and that they would extend to all public institutions," she said in a video shared on her Instagram account.

According to Amine, Aoun said that "such incidents should never happen again and that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect."

"I asked him if there was a law that protects Lebanese from racism. He replied no, but I insisted that such a law was necessary," she stated. She also expressed the wish to meet the president in person once back in Lebanon to discuss the kafala system.

Still on Instagram, Amine, a Lebanese artist and director whose mother is of African origin, denounced a "racist" experience at the airport on Friday. She said that while queuing to get her passport stamped, an officer allegedly shouted at her in a "loud, vulgar and degrading" tone: "Hey! You, the Ethiopian! You are in the wrong line!"

Contacted on Friday by L'Orient-Le Jour, Amine stated that "no political official" had contacted her yet. She hoped that her message would reach the president and demanded an official apology, while calling for the adoption of a law in Lebanon against discrimination and racism.

Yesterday, four days after the incident, General Security announced that it tool "appropriate disciplinary measures" against the officer concerned. Amine immediately welcomed this.

"My voice has been heard. Thank you to everyone who stood by me. I am grateful to General Security for reacting immediately," she wrote on Instagram.

"Today marks an important first step. I celebrate this moment with all those who have suffered from discrimination, oppression, or racism. To the Lebanese, I say: we are a nation that loves life, let us extend this spirit to include everyone. We know what suffering is, for we have lived it, through war, loss, and trials. It is time to make room for justice and dignity for all," she added.