BEIRUT — Tens of people gathered Friday morning in front of the French Embassy in Beirut, at the call of the United Lawyers Alliance and the Depositors' Outcry Association to protest against the “corrupt ruling class” in Lebanon and call on the international community to take retaliatory action against these leaders, the state-owned National News Agency reported.
Here’s what we know:
• According to the NNA, during the sit-in, protesters shouted slogans against central bank Governor Riad Salameh and the Association of Banks in Lebanon, demanding they be brought to international justice.
• The president of the association of depositors, Alaa Khorchid indicated that similar gatherings will take place “in order to send our appeal to the countries concerned, in particular the European governments and the United States.” He also accused the Lebanese political class of “illegally transferring funds abroad.”
• Lebanese banks have imposed informal restrictions on withdrawals and transfers of funds from their customers since the start of the financial crisis in 2019. A long-awaited capital control law has yet to be approved by Parliament.