Lebanon Deports Domestic Worker Rights Organizer

Lebanon’s general security agency detained Rana at her employer’s home on November 30, 2016, did not allow her to call a lawyer, and questioned her about her involvement in activism for the rights of migrant domestic workers, according to local organizations. Lebanese authorities later arrested a second Nepalese migrant domestic worker, Roja Limbu, on December 5. She remains in detention and no reason has been given for either woman’s arrest. Both are active members of the domestic workers’ union in Lebanon and have legal status and work authorization. According to civil society organizations, lawyers have been unable to meet with Limbu in detention and have expressed concern that she too will be deported.