Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union demands public apology to Roula al-Helou, airline reforms from MEA

The Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union’s administration sent a letter to Middle East Airlines Chairman Mohammed al-Hout on Monday bemoaning what had happened with Lebanese journalist Roula al-Helou who was prevented from boarding a flight on Sunday.

The union’s administration said al-Helou was denied boarding an MEA flight on Sunday February 16, and was told that the reason behind the decision was her handicap.

The administration continued, saying that al-Helou was insulted by one of the airlines crew members, adding that such incidents were not unique.

In this regard, the union noted that such behavior violates international aviation laws, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the principles and laws of the World Tourism Organization and law number 220/2000 concerning the rights of persons with disabilities.

It added that the service office of the travelers with special needs lacks basic amenities and codes required to serve travelers with disabilities, which results in exposing both the disabled and the elderly to hazards and insults.

Accordingly, the union’s administration demanded a “public apology to al-Helou,” calling on al-Hout to take the necessary measures to train and enable the crew members to deal with handicapped people and to facilitate their travel procedures.

The administration said that it will not stand idly by and denounce this situation in case it is to be repeated; stressing that it will inform the concerned authorities and urge them to take the necessary measures to put an end to such forms of discrimination, “even if this required boycotting the airlines company and reporting its actions to the World Tourism Organization.”