Egypt’s dwarfs ‘should no longer tolerate being discriminated’ – Dwarf Association’s chairman

dwarf44As Egypt’s constitutional commission, the so-called “commission of fifty”, struggles to rework the country’s Constitution passed during the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood, matters concerning social protection and human rights gain more attention with minority groups raising their voices against ethnic, religious or other discrimination. A new organization has recently appeared on Cairo’s political scene – the Dwarf Association of Egypt. Voice oа Russia’s correspondent talked to its chairman Isam Shehata.

How was your association created and what goals does it pursue?

It all happened by itself. I am of a family of dwarfs. And we suddenly realized that the 75,000 Egyptian dwarfs should no longer tolerate being discriminated. The disabled, for example, have a right to all sorts of privileges and compensations, but dwarfs aren’t listed among the disabled.

Our association was founded in Alexandria in 2012 on charity donations from businessmen to protect the rights of tens of thousands of our citizens who cannot live a full-fledged life only because no one bothers to raise the problem of the little people of Egypt.

Our main task at present is to open representations in all Egyptian cities as we receive lots of letters and telephone calls from dwarfs in various provinces, asking for help. In Alexandria, 1,500 dwarfs cannot live a normal life, so can you imagine the plight of dwarfs in the provinces?

 

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