These occurrences are now commonplace in Lebanon. Lebanese MP Cynthia Zarazir staged a sit-down in a bank in north Beirut in a new incursion after repeatedly demanding her deposits.
Zarazir allegedly went into the Byblos Bank branch in Antelias to demand a portion of her savings in order to carry out an operation.
The lawmaker launched a sit-in inside the premises until she gave over part of the money, which came to $8,000 after the bank refused to give it to her.
It is noteworthy that Lebanon experienced a number of similar incidents last month, beginning with the young woman, Sally Hafez, storming a bank in Beirut while brandishing weapons (which later turned out to be just a prank), demanding access to her money that the bank had wrongfully seized in order to treat her sister’s brain cancer before receiving $13,000.
Then another depositor came in, threatening and demanding his money back, at the BLOM BANK branch in Beirut.
The Lebanon and Gulf Bank branch in Beirut was then besieged by a new depositor, while the Lebanese French Bank branch in the Hamra neighbourhood was assaulted by an incensed local.
Another security element infiltration was also witnessed in the town of Chehim in the Mount Lebanon Governorate.
It is noteworthy that since 2019, Lebanese banks have made it difficult for most depositors to access their money, even while the economy has continued to deteriorate and many residents have become unable to cover their basic living expenses.
In 2020, the country’s economy and standard of living experienced an unprecedented collapse, the local currency’s value declined, prices rose, there was a high unemployment rate, there were predictions that there would be an increase in bank robberies in the coming weeks as the crisis worsened, and the dollar crossed the 37,000-pound mark on the black market.
These invasions have raised concerns about the recent occurrence of this phenomena, and numerous depositors have turned to forcible recovery to reclaim some of their money after banks unlawfully confiscated it.
Lebanon.. Until she makes her deposit, a deputy waits in a bank.
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