AIDS associations challenge State Security 

In response to the arrest by the State Security on October 29 of HIV patient, Richard G. on charges of providing tattoo services in a Verdun beauty center, (https://goo.gl/WuxyZ9),the Lebanese AIDS Network Association, LANA, yesterday strongly denounced a State Security statement which stigmatized, criminalized and denied AIDS/HIV patients certain occupations. LANA cited reasons for its objection, explaining that, first, living with the virus is not a felony or charge, but a chronic health condition requiring continuous treatment; second, communicating or working with HIV patients is not life-threatening to others, third, there is no law or text that bans these patients from practicing any job. The State Security’s handling of the issue, LANA said, designates lack of education, ignorance of human rights and laws. It is a discriminatory action that endorses stigma and stereotyping, for it pictures HIV patients as intimidators, and appallingly transforming the human immunodeficiency virus infection into a national issue that jeopardizes national and social security in the country. (Al Akhbar, October 31, 2018)