US, UK and Canada sanction Lebanon’s former central bank governor
Al JazeeraJul 31, 2023
The Facts
Protesters in Lebanon vandalized several banks in the Beirut suburb of Sin el-Fil on Thursday, setting fire to tires and destroying windows as depositors demand access to savings they have been locked out of for almost four years.
Bank Audi, Bank of Beirut, and Byblos Bank were all targeted. Protesters at the scene demanded the return of their money and called for officials accused of being involved in corruption, including the central bank Governor Riad Salameh, to be held accountable.
The Spin
Narrative A
These depositors recouping their funds are heroes, and their actions represent the frustrations of an entire nation deprived of its savings for nearly four years. As millions of Lebanese have been thrown into poverty by corrupt politicians and bank owners, desperate measures are a form of retribution for this injustice.
Narrative B
While the depositors' actions may seem noble to some, they, like many others inside and outside Lebanon, are blaming the wrong people. It's the outside influence of Iran, as well as Hezbollah, that has pushed Lebanon to the brink. The Lebanese people must acknowledge this to truly move forward and fix their country.
