Humiliation of Black Lebanese woman at airport spotlights racism in Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has contacted filmmaker and artist Lama el-Amine to express regret over a racist incident she experienced at Beirut's international airport on Friday.

The call came after she posted a viral video on Instagram recounting her experiences and urging the Lebanese president to take serious action to prevent racist abuse, including the adoption of anti-discrimination laws to protect all people in Lebanon from all forms of racism.

El-Amine, whose mother is of African descent, said she was subjected to racist abuse by a General Security officer while waiting in line at passport control.

According to her account, the officer shouted: "Hey! You, the Ethiopian, you’re in the wrong line!" and continued in a loud, demeaning tone, ordering her to remove her headphones and listen.

She responded firmly, identifying herself as Lebanese and challenging the officer’s assumptions.

"Not all Black people are Ethiopians, and not all Lebanese should be white," she said in the video, describing the experience as "racist" and "humiliating". She said that this was not the first time she had experienced such treatment at Beirut airport.

In a follow-up video, El-Amine said President Aoun had assured her during their phone call that steps would be taken to address the issue and prevent future occurrences.

She also raised the broader issue of legal protections, highlighting the lack of an anti-racism law in Lebanon, which she said Aoun had acknowledged.

Her initial video sparked a wave of reactions across Lebanese social media, with many Lebanese expressing shame and anger over the officer's behaviour, while others praised El-Amine's courage for speaking out.

"We must punish these acts of racism without mercy, and Lebanese people should finally understand that our diversity is a strength. Normalising intolerance is a betrayal of our humanity. Stay strong," wrote Lebanese comedian Coco Makmak.

The incident has reignited debate about institutional racism in Lebanon, particularly toward people of African or South Asian descent.

Lebanon hosts a large population of migrant domestic workers, many employed under the controversial kafala sponsorship system, which has been widely criticised for enabling abuse and exploitation.

Racist attitudes often go unchallenged and are embedded in daily life, NGOs say, from discriminatory language and behaviour in public spaces to systemic inequalities in workplaces and the legal system.