Mounes Abdul Wahab

Mounes Abdul Wahab
Born	1947 El-Mina, Lebanon
Alma mater	American University of Beirut
Occupation(s)	Civil rights advocate, author, disability rights activist
Known for	Disability rights movement in Lebanon

Mounes Abdul Wahab (born 1947) is a prominent figure in civil rights advocacy, an author, and a trailblazer in Lebanon’s disability rights movement. Being blind from birth, he has played a crucial role in advancing the cause for individuals with disabilities.

Early life

Mounes was born in El-Mina, Lebanon, to parents Fadwa and Kifli Abdul Wahab and is the grandson of Kheireddine Abdul Wahab. His early education took place at home before he attended specialized institutions during his adolescence in both Beirut and Cairo, where he acquired proficiency in braille. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Arabic literature from the American University of Beirut in 1974 and later obtained a master's degree in the same discipline in 1983.

Civil Rights Activism

Abdul Wahab's engagement in activism commenced during his time at the American University of Beirut when he became a member of the Lebanese Association of Blind Workers, joining its board by 1974. In 1975, he established the Lebanese Association of Blind University Graduates and represented Lebanon at an international conference for the blind held in Berlin, which included participants from over 130 nations.

The onset of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975 caused an interruption to his postgraduate studies, leading him back to El-Mina. He resumed his academic pursuits in 1981 and concurrently hosted a radio program titled With the Handicapped for three years aimed at increasing public understanding of disability issues. That same year, he became part of the National Committee of the Disabled and represented Lebanon at regional disability forums in Amman, Sharja, and Riyadh.

Following the completion of his master's degree in 1983, Abdul Wahab co-established the North Lebanon branch of The Friends of the Handicapped Association alongside Professor Nawaf Kabbara. Together, they spearheaded significant initiatives such as the 1987 Handicapped Peacewalk throughout Lebanon and the 1988 Oxfam Lebanon Peace conference—both landmark events for disability rights within the country. Additionally, he served as Lebanon's delegate at conferences held in Belarus, Egypt, and Jordan.

In 1996, Abdul Wahab made history by becoming the first person with a disability elected to El-Mina’s municipal committee. He authored his memoirs published in 2003 and remains active as a contributor to various outlets focusing on disability rights and civil society activism.

References

• Ayam Mou'nes (Days of Mounes) - M. Abdul Wahab, 2003, Friends of the Handicapped Press.