Beiruti protesters mobilize against institutions and currency exchange shops
- Demonstrators gathered outside the Beirut Municipality to demand the resignation of the mayor and governor. Scuffles erupted outside the municipality when a small group, opposing the demonstration, arrived.
- Protesters also gathered outside the Central Inspections Bureau to denounce the Telecom Ministry’s stagnation in renewing Ogero’s contract and to demand that new contracts with mobile telecom companies be put on competitive and transparent tenders.
- Separately, protesters targeted currency exchange shops in Hamra against the widening gap between the official and black market exchange rates of the Lebanese currency.
Protests erupt against electricity rationing
- Protesters in Baalbek stormed the EDL, locked employees inside their offices, and stopped others from entering the building. They condemned the increased rationing of electricity. Similar protests erupted in Tyre, Kfar Remane, and Nabatieh. Protesters in Tyre threatened to stop paying the electricity bill if cuts continue.
- Roads were blocked in Beddawi, Tripoli’s Nejmeh Square, and Minniyeh throughout the day against electricity cuts. Protesters had clashed with security forces the night before in Beddawi.
- In the evening, protesters gathered in Nejmeh Square to demand the resignation of Prime Minister designate Hassan Diab.
Depositor detained by Fransabank management, then police
- Depositor Jessika Khazrik was detained inside Fransabank’s headquarters in Hamra for two hours after refusing to leave without her money. Employees barricaded her in an office with members of the Internal Security Forces.
- Khazrik said if she couldn’t access her funds, she would not be able to pay for her brother’s tuition fees or her residency in Germany.
- She was arrested and taken to the Minet El Hosn police station. While detained, Fransabank sued Khazrik for libel and slander. Khazrik countersued for restriction of freedom, credit abuse, and threat of physical violence. She was released three hours later after her lawyer was allowed in to the station.
Bank Audi Jal el Dib branch employees attack depositor
- Videos circulated on social media early Friday afternoon of Bank Audi employees in the Jal—el—Dib branch beating a customer outside the branch.
- Bank Audi later released a statement expressing condemnation and regret about the violence, blaming “the tremendous pressure” that both employees and customers have been put under. It said it has launched an investigation, and promised to take appropriate action following the investigation.
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