Lebanon – Lebanese depositors protest outside banks against parliament’s draft capital control law

Location: Beirut – Lebanon

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:02:59

Sound: natural

Source: A24 in Lebanon

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Date: 30/08/ 2022

Storyline:

Lebanese depositors staged a sit-in outside multiple Beirut bank branches to denounce violating their rights.

Angry over local banks’ seizure of their assets, protests come amid the extensive deployment of Lebanese army forces in the streets of the capital.

Protests started outside the House of Representatives, coinciding with a parliament session about a  draft capital control law.

Demonstrator Alaa Khorshid told A24  that the law is an attempt by MPs to legalize the theft of the citizens’ money.

Some protesters warned of the catastrophe that Lebanon would face as banks ran out of cash reserves. Others threatened revenge on bank owners for stealing citizens’ funds and that no law could protect them.

Shotlist:

– Soundbite (Mussa Agassi – Proteste”):

“This our fifth protest against capital control law, through which MPs are trying to legislate bank theft of our funds. We warn banks, who think this law would allow them to steal our money, that these funds are rightfully ours, and they will pay for their theft dearly.”

– Soundbite (Alaa Khorshid – Protester ):

“Stalling and wasting time is disadvantageous to them and the people. There will be a catastrophe in Lebanon when this cash reserve runs out. Then, they will have to pay for what they have done, and there will be no law to protect them.”