Edgar Awad, the father of two, has for many years worked abroad and sent the money to his bank in Lebanon. The money was supposed to be used for the children’s education but also for his own expenses.
When the banking crisis started in Lebanon a few years ago, Edgar Awad wanted his money back. But like most other bank depositors, he got a no. At most, he received a few thousand kroner a month, which did not cover everyday expenses in Lebanon at all.
– I have tried by all legal means to get my money back, but it didn’t work, says Edgar Awad when TV4 Nyheterna meets him in Beirut.
During the summer he had enough and with the help of a group he attacked a bank. The others filmed the attack. When he threatened with the matches, the staff left the bank and he was able to take his approximately SEK 160,000.
– I only took what was mine, with the aim that it would not become violent, he says.
Edgar is one of many who have taken matters into their own hands in Lebanon. Since last year, so-called “bank raids” have taken place almost every week, which are often filmed and spread on social media.
No one is punished
One of those who is in constant contact with the desperate bank depositors is the lawyer Rami Ollaik. He runs the organization United which supports bank depositors. He and other lawyers have found a way to carry out the bank raids with no punishment so far.
– We realized that we had to have some kind of balance of power and that we needed a legal umbrella to implement it. Then we found section 184, which gives us the right to forcefully take back what is ours or help someone to forcefully take something back, he says.
The bank raids are rooted in a major economic crisis in Lebanon. The Lebanese currency has lost up to 90 percent of its value in a few years. Part is due to the politically turbulent situation and deep corruption in the state apparatus, but also to global problems such as the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Edgar does not believe that the banks in Lebanon will change their mind.
– If you have money in the bank, go and get it, otherwise it’s gone.