After a series of bank holdups, Mawlawi says security forces will be tough in imposing law

BEIRUT — “Security apparatuses in the country have met together and came up with a strict plan to impose law and order in the country in order to protect depositors and citizens,” said caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi Friday after depositors raided several banks across Lebanon demanding to withdraw their own money.

“Deposits in the banks are for all depositors, and not for one depositor to barge in to take his money, at the expense of others,” Mawlawi said in a press conference after a Central Internal Security Council meeting.

Mawlawi assured that he stands with “depositors and not banks, and we are here simply to say that it is our duty to protect the country from going into complete chaos." Yet, he announced a "strict plan to impose law and order in the country, in order to protect depositors and citizens." Mawlawi also denounced the action of "parties" who want to push depositors to use force to exercise their rights.

Since Friday morning, at least five bank holdups took place in Lebanon, among which three are still in progress.

These actions follow Wednesday's bank takeover, with depositor Sali Hafez demanding her own funds in a Beirut bank, and another holdup in a bank in Aley.

Across Lebanon, people have become increasingly frustrated three years after their funds continue to be illegally held by the banks since October 2019.