A smoke free Lebanon ...

Lebanon goes Smoke free…

Yes it's true dear reader, to my surprise, Lebanon has gone smoke free. Upon boarding my MEA flight home, i was handed a pamphlet explaining that Lebanon has passed a Public Smoking ban on September 3rd 2011.

The ban includes:
-Malls, shopping areas, supermarkets and commercial districts
-Airport buildings, airplanes and employee transportation vehicles
-Taxis, buses, vans and other public and private transportation vehicles
-Offices and other enclosed workplaces, their respective corridors, stairs, elevators, restrooms, reception area and cafeterias
-All schools, universities and all other public and private educational facilities (All related outdoor campuses and premises are included in the ban)
-All hospitals, clinics and all other private and public medical facilities are smoke free (Related outdoor campuses and premises are included in the ban)


This law is now into affect regarding the above stated, however this law will extend to all cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and other hospitality venues including hotels, as of September 3rd 2012.

The penalties for smoking in a banned area are as follows:

UP to 90 USD for the individual smoking in the banned areas.
And the establishment (owner or manager) will be fined twice up to 6 folds the Lebanese minimum wage equivalent of 900 to 2700 USD for not taking proper action to stop the individual.

I like this, honestly, they are using the european model and i for one am glad that the government has moved in favor of something that will be good for all Lebanese in long run.

Honestly, and being a smoker myself, i am very pleased to hear about this ban and look forward to September 3rd when this will apply in all pubs.

SO yes we all knew this would happen, a post where there will be no bitching just praise. I am happy to thank the Lebanese Government for this ban!

See picture of pamphlet distributed on all Middle-East Airlines both in Arabic and English!

Lebanese Rape Society

"Welcome to Lebanese Rape Society (LRS), your one stop portal to committing rape in Lebanon. Here you can learn all about committing rape in Lebanon and how to get away with it.

I know what you are thinking, how can this be? How can there be a legal guide to rape? Well stop thinking that because in Lebanon, rapist have more rights and protections under the law than the victim. Article 522 of the Lebanese Penal code states :

إذا عقد زواج صحيح بين مرتكب إحدى الجرائم الواردة في هذا الفصل وبين المعتدى عليها أوقفت الملاحقة وإذا كان صدر الحكم بالقضية علق تنفيذ العقاب الذي فرض عليه.
يعاد إلى الملاحقة أو تنفيذ العقوبة قبل انقضاء ثلاث سنوات على الجنحة وانقضاء خمس سنوات على الجناية إذا انتهى الزواج إما بطلاق المرأة دون سبب مشروع أو بالطلاق المحكوم به لمصلحة المعتدى عليها.

See i told you it was real, here at LRS we give free legal advise and a how to guide if you sign up in the next few minutes. Article 522 also includes rape of a minor, person with a disability, divorcee and many many more. We can guarantee your exoneration all under the umbrella of the law.

Wait there is more, in the event your victim is extremely pretty and she has refused all your advances, a rape can guarantee you a marriage to this person. Just make sure LRS is aware so we can begin pressuring her family to avoid all the shame and public fiasco of an actual 'rape' process and just marry you. 

So next time you are thinking of the consequences of raping someone, do not worry, contact LRS ahead of time and we will help you (using the law) get away with rape (Literally)  

                       Lebanese Rape Association, making sure you are the victim"

All this might seem comedic to some but i was merely trying to point out the deficiencies in our penal code when it comes to sexual cases (all our code needs updating btw). Our penal code, theoretically, would allow an organisation such as this to exist since it is using actual articles and law from our penal system. 

It is hard to believe that with all the respect 'arabs' claim to have towards women, such laws actually exist. This needs to stop, criminals and sexual deviants should not have the chance to be spared because of an archaic law in an archaic system.

You can help :

Delete522 is a new  campaign launched specifically to change the law concerning sexual assault

Read about it :

Abir Ghattas's blog Delete522

*Inspired by Abirghattas.com and delete522.com

A tribute Post ...

This post is a tribute to a very special person in my life :

"You were there when i was very young, you bathed me and  helped me get dressed. You made sure i was fed and made it on time to school. 

You cleaned up my mess and made sure all my toys were organised and my bed was always made.

You never once asked for a break and never once did you complain that you were tired.

You were there for me when i was happy, sad, hungry and sleepy. You stayed awake reading me stories until i fell asleep. 

You juggled cleaning, cooking and taking care of me like it was easy. 

You always made sure i was ok and had everything i needed regardless of your own needs. 

You played with me when everyone else was busy, you listened to my stories and nodded with interest. 

You took care of my dog when i was to busy. You made sure i did my homework.

You always waited with me in the cold for the school bus and always waited to pick me up when i got home from school.

You never complained and never asked for anything.

I still remember like it was yesterday the day you had to leave us and go back to your family. It was crowded at the airport and i still didn't understand what was going on. You hugged me and told me that you will never forget me. I saw you walk away slowly, i realised you were leaving me and began to cry and shout out your name, my mother held me as i tried to reach you. You slowly disappeared beyond my field of vision. 

 But you had a family of your own to take care of and i was being selfish by wanting you to stay with me, i still remember how kind you were with me and will never forget what you did for me. "

This is my own experience with my domestic worker / nanny when i was very young. These women give up everything they have to earn money for their families. These women treat us with such genuine love and care that one would think they  are doing just for us. It kills me inside when i hear the stories of ungrateful Lebanese families who treat their domestic worker with such violence and slavery.

Abusing domestic workers is WRONG, it does not matter what religion, race, background or class you are from. IT IS WRONG! They are not slaves, they are not sexual toys, they are not yours. They are here to further their families and make a living. If you won't pay them fare wage (Government's fault) then at least treat them with respect that you would give your mother, sister, brother, friend.

Stop the abuse of Migrant Workers in Lebanon, imprison those who do.

Find out here what is going on in Lebanon:

Migrant worker beaten and commits suicide  

Family of Zewdi Reda, the migrant worker who committed suicide in Lebanon due to maltreatment and  disregard by the Lebanese judiciary

To help:

Migrant Workers Task Force (MWTF)