News from Lebanonesia

The irony is that no people in the Middle East invoke the work "civilized" and "advanced" more than the Lebanonese people: "That friend, an Indian who recently completed her doctoral thesis and whose husband is an architect for the United Nations, said the story struck something deep in her. Until she heard it, she thought the funny looks she and her Indian husband got when they walked into restaurants and bars (and the fact that every time she answered her door, whoever had rung – the electrician, the postman – would look over her shoulder and ask "Where is the Madame?") stemmed from harmless curiosity or, at worst, ignorance. Now, she senses a definite hostility behind the stares. As with racism and discrimination everywhere, the mental process of "othering" is the first step on what can become a path of mistreatment and abuse. In Lebanon, this path is well trodden: according to Human Rights Watch, over a 20-month period, two maids were beaten to death, while 40 committed suicide and 24 died as a result of "falling from a high floor", in what may be presumed are suicide attempts. These women often have their passports confiscated, creating a de facto situation of forced labour. Some suffer regular physical or sexual abuse. And sadly, the problem is not unique to Lebanon, but stretches throughout the Middle East and the Gulf, affecting not just migrant women but men as well, particularly in the construction industry." (thanks Saeed)