KAFA criticizes the racist positions of Labor Minister Azzi

Kafa noted in a recent statement that the current Minister of Labor, Sejaan Azzi, ironically expressed his readiness to grant Lebanese nationality to some 420,000 domestic workers of African and Asian origins which thus will transform Lebanon into a “multi-colorful” instead of a multi confessional state! According to Kafa, “Minister Azzi has often made similar statements and took actions that are in violation of the principles of Human Rights and in contradiction with his duties as a minister who ought to be observing the provisos of international conventions that clearly oppose any kind of discrimination between human beings on the basis of color, race or affiliation.” The women association highlighted some of these recent statements and actions such as for instance threatening to stop by force the activities of the founding meeting for the establishment of a domestic workers trade union; sending out inspectors to a magazine after it published a feature on the conditions of domestic workers and the new trade union, as well as insulting a Kafa woman activist for her intervention during a televised interview. Kafa's statement went onto say that the Minister of Labor always resort to poorly founded excuses on priorities whenever challenging the demands of civil society. Kafa concluded by expressing its outrage at the failure by the Minister to observe his duties and continuous infringement on the rights and dignity of people, while condemning his arrogance towards human rights organizations and media institutions that have challenged his irresponsible acts.

For the full KAFA statement, please refer to the following link:
http://bit.ly/1IlNhj9

(Al Akhbar, As Safir, 8 & 9 May 2015)