Loading ...Paradoxical Views of Lebanon—Citizens ‘Robbing Banks’ to withdraw Their Own Money—Juxtaposed to Lebanese Rejoicing over Mayyas Dancers’ Win on 'America's Got Talent'
By: John Mason / Arab America Contributing Writer
Some Lebanese are actually robbing banks to take their own money. This anomaly is occurring in the context of a worsening economic crisis. Lebanese banks have placed strict controls on deposits, foreclosing millions of clients from foreign currency savings. In contrast, the Mayyas are a Lebanese women’s dance group that won the ‘America’s Got Talent’ prize. Their victory brought a rare moment of joy and unity to the Lebanese people, who’ve been struggling with three years of profound economic adversity and political deadlock.
‘Robbing Banks’ for their Own Money a Symptom of Lebanon’s Worsening Economic Crisis
Yes, some Lebanese are actually robbing banks to take their own money. This anomaly is occurring in the context of a worsening economic crisis. According to Al-Jazeera, the crisis is “plunging three-quarters of its population below poverty.” Such robberies are part of a growing trend of depositors arming and storming banks. But they are not stealing anyone else’s money, they just want access to their own savings.
These so-called robbers are not being prosecuted. Al-Jazeera reports that “the perpetrators have largely been allowed to remain free and have become folk heroes.” As the Lebanese economy declines, such robberies are becoming more and more common. The Lebanese pound has lost more than 90% of its value, measured by its value compared to the United States dollar.
These holdups have become increasingly common as Lebanon’s economic crisis continues. Because of the pound’s devaluation, the government has imposed a limit on the amount a depositor can withdraw from their own accounts. So, the question is, what lies behind these bank heists?
One is that since 2019 a large majority of the Lebanese population has fallen below the poverty line. As poverty and unemployment have surged, savings account numbers have declined. At the same time, the middle class has faded. Second, Lebanese banks have placed strict controls on deposits. This has had the effect of foreclosing millions of clients from foreign currency savings.
That meant, according to Al-Jazeera, “Every time you want to withdraw money, it would be at a rate much lower than the market value. For example, if you want to withdraw $700, they gave you $200. So that’s a de facto haircut.” This refers to the banks’ horribly adverse exchange rate for the Lebanese pound when withdrawing cash.
The Extent of ‘Bank Robberies’ to Withdraw Customers’ Own Savings
There have been a number of ‘bank robberies’ dating to the beginning of 2022. The first case occurred in eastern Lebanon when a man took hostages when told he could not withdraw his foreign currency savings. Local media reported that the customer was eventually given some of his savings and surrendered to security forces.
In another instance in August, in Beirut, according to Al-Jazeera, “an armed man also held employees and customers hostage at a Beirut bank after he was told he could not withdraw $200,000 from his account for his sick father’s treatment. The man was cheered on by a crowd outside the bank.”
A more bizarre case, a woman known as Sali Hafiz, demanded savings from her account. She used what she later said was a toy gun. Other activists accompanied her. Sali wanted her savings to pay for hospital treatment of her sister’s cancer. She went to the extreme of pouring gasoline inside the bank, threatening to light the match unless the bank didn’t turn over her funds. The bank paid a small portion of her savings.
Some of these robberies are not just individual acts. Rather they are part of an organized movement, ‘Depositors’ Outcry.’ Alaa Khorchid, founder of the movement averred, “desperate times have left people with no choice but to take matters into their own hands.” Further, Khorchid asserted, “These people worked for decades, but not for the rulers to build palaces while they can’t afford a bottle of medicine.”
Sali Hafiz summarized the predicament of many Lebanese with money in the bank. She declared, per a Reuters report, “I had nothing more to lose, I got to the end of the road. I got to a point where I was going to sell my kidney so that my sister could receive treatment.”
Lebanon Women’s Dance Troup—the Mayyas—Who ‘Walk Proudly like a Lioness’—Celebrated by Lebanese
The Mayyas are a Lebanese women’s dance group formed by Lebanese choreographer Nadim Cherfan. These talented dancers “stepped out on stage wearing Arabian-inspired dancewear with beaded burqas,” wrote the Arab News. That stage was ‘America’s Got Talent (AGT).’ Mayyas in Arabic means ‘walking proudly like a lioness.’
They danced with “synchronized moves to Arabic beats…a show-stopping routine that earned a lengthy standing ovation from the judges.” The troupe got the ‘Golden Buzzer’ signaling their victory. Panel member Simon Cowell said: “That was arguably the best dance act we have ever seen.”
A small incident occurred before the Mayyas began their show. One dancer expressed to the jury, “Unfortunately, being a female Arab dancer is not fully supported yet. Us being here, standing on the biggest stage of the world, is our only chance to prove to the world what Arab women can do; that we can create, the fights we fight.” One critic noted, “It was the most beautiful creative dancing I’ve ever seen.”
Not only did the Mayyas win the individual competition, but they also won the AGT 2022 finale. According to Yahoo News, “After quickly becoming a fan-favorite on the NBC competition show, the mesmerizing Lebanon dancers earned the most votes during the highly anticipated AGT 2022 finale.” The troupe claimed a $1 million prize and have the chance to headline a show in Las Vegas.
On winning the prestigious AGT contest, many Lebanese people celebrated the Mayyas. Mayyas’ victory was like a bright, shining star, given the battered economic and political conditions of their country. Al-Monitor reported, “Many fans, across age groups and religious lines in the crisis-tested country and its large diaspora, tearfully cheered the all-women group for what judges and viewers hailed as a hypnotic and mesmerizing performance.” Even caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati “gushed, Lebanese creativity shines.”
Al-Monitor also reported, “The Mayyas’ win of the season finale brought rare respite and a moment of unity to the small country reeling from almost three years of deep economic hardship and political stalemate.” It is certainly a better story than that of “several people who have recently held up banks, using real or toy guns, to demand their frozen savings.”
Sources:
“People are ‘robbing’ banks in Lebanon – to take their own money,” Al-Jazeera, 9/15/2022
“In Lebanon, armed customers rob banks to get their own money,” Reuters via CNN, 9/14/2002
“The Mayyas Are Who Won ‘America’s Got Talent’ 2022 and Viewers Are Losing It,” Yahoo News, 9/14/2022
“Lebanese dance crew Mayyas get Golden Buzzer on ‘America’s Got Talent’”, Arab News 6/22/2022
“Despite Lebanon’s Battering by Political and Economic Turmoil, Lebanese rejoice over Mayyas Big Win,” Al-Monitor, 9/15/2022
John Mason, PhD., who focuses on Arab culture, society, and history, is the author of LEFT-HANDED IN AN ISLAMIC WORLD: An Anthropologist’s Journey into the Middle East, New Academia Publishing, 2017. He has taught at the University of Libya, Benghazi, Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, and the American University in Cairo; John served with the United Nations in Tripoli, Libya, and consulted extensively on socioeconomic and political development for USAID and the World Bank in 65 countries.
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