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Bachar Bzeih

Banks Announces Strike Starting Monday

Lebanon’s Association of Bank has announced an open strike starting on Monday, August 8, in protest at the “populist” decisions taken against its members in Lebanese courts.



The decision cites the recent arrest of the chairman of Credit Bank Tarek Khalife as one of these unacceptable judicial decisions. Khalife was arrested on August 1st at Beirut Airport upon his return to Lebanon. They believe this decision fits in with a series of harmful attacks perpetrated by the state against them.

The association had held their meeting on August 4, but postponed their statement to August 5 “in respect for the victims” of the explosion.



News of this traveled fast as queues formed outside banks early on Friday.

Lebanon has been plagued by a banking crisis since the end of 2019, with people’s deposits withheld from them and subsequently losing close to 70% of their value. Since the start of the crisis, banks have also subjected customers to long queues, unmerciful decisions, and overall humiliation.

Stealing people’s money then striking at the little pushback they receive over it, Lebanon’s banks have completely no shame.