Kenyan Woman in Viral Mob Assault Video in Lebanon Faces Deportation
Lebanese authorities are reportedly set to deport a Kenyan women who was recently physically assaulted by a mob in a suspected racist attack.
In a footage that went viral online, a well built man believed to be a military officer is seen beating up two Kenyan women and holding them by their hair. He is later joined by a crowd in an incident that reportedly happened at the Beirut suburb of Bourj Hammoud.
The two, only identified as Rosa and Shamila, were arrested after the incident on June 17th and were paraded in a military court on Wednesday.
The Guardian reports that Lebanon’s directorate of general security issued a deportation order against Shamila this week, in a move likely to spark fresh criticism over the country’s treatment of migrant domestic workers.
“General security issued a deportation order for my client, Shamila, in violation of her basic human rights of a fair trial and to defend herself in court,” Nermine Sibai, a lawyer representing the two women, told the Guardian.
Sibai also said that she had been denied access to her client before they were arraigned in court on Wednesday.
Several countries have banned citizens from working in Lebanon due mistreatment of migrant domestic workers, but thousands of desperate migrants mostly from Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Kenya, travel to the Middle East nation in search of employment opportunities.
Kenya's ministry of Foreign Affairs had written to Lebanese authorities demanding for an apology for the recent incident and called for the culprits “to meet the full force of the law”.
Last month, Lebanon's Justice minister Salim Jreissati termed the attack as “shocking” and “abhorrently racist and different from the Lebanon people’s manners” and directed the general security agency to settle the residency status of the two Kenyan citizens, a request that seems to have been ignored.
This is the moment two Kenyan women were beaten by a 'Lebanese official' in Beirut pic.twitter.com/LhpoweLt6k
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) June 25, 2018
“The decision by the general security to deport the Kenyan woman who was brutally assaulted in Bourj Hammoud reflects the injustice faced by migrant domestic workers in Lebanon,” Amnesty International said in a statement. “Whenever they seek justice, they are faced by deportation orders.”
Shamila’s lawyer said Lebanese authorities didn't give reason for her deportation.
Comments (4)
This is unbelievable, heart breaking, this are coward and should not have a place in the world. Our hearts goes to the two ladies. Quick recovery.
Most Middle East countries are racist as hell. I would avoid these countries at all cost. It is so since we Kenyans treat foreigners better than they treat us.
The two, only identified as Rosa and Shamila, were arrested after the incident on June 17th and were paraded in a military court on Wednesday. Why were civilians paraded in a military court?. The person or persons appearing in a military court should have been the military officers to answer for their actions.
It's probably a good thing if they are deported to Kenya since it may end up saving their lives. I can't imagine any good coming from them staying there, being detained, paraded in military court, assaulted, denied access to legal representation, and demands for proper treatment by Lebanon's justice minister being ignored. Let's pray for them to be speedily and safely brought home.