BEIRUT - Lebanese Jouranlist Roula al-Helou, who was denied the right to travel on a Middle East Airlines flight due to a disability, gave NOW her reaction to the treatment she received from the company.
“For a moment I wanted to tear up my Lebanese passport,” Helou told NOW in an interview published Monday.
The journalist suffers from a physical disability that prevents her from being able to use her legs.
She said she had traveled with MEA by herself previously without anyone trying to marginalize or disrespect her, adding that on one occasion when a member of the staff tried to stop her from traveling, the problem was resolved on the spot.
On Sunday, however, she was humiliated by a company employee who told her to get up and walk if she could, according to an interview she gave to Al-Jadeed.
She also told NOW that she will be taking legal action against the company and added that it was fortunate the incident happened to someone with the ability to address the public.
“I have tasked my lawyer Dunya Suleiman with following up on this subject and taking legal action against the company.”
“Thank God this incident happened to me, a person with authority. If it had happened to someone else… their voice would not have reached the public.”
MEA said in a statement, of which NOW acquired a copy, that it respects international standards and laws on the treatment of persons with special needs.
The statement went on to say that Helou had insisted in her booking that she was able to walk from her wheel chair to her seat on the plane, while on previous trips she had always requested assistance.
https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/lebanonnews/535863-disabled-journalist-outraged-by-mea-conduct
