Anti-government demonstrators gave out free haircuts at a protest in front of Lebanon’s Central Bank in Beirut on Wednesday, as they demanded that rich depositors ‘take a haircut’ on their savings, as the country remains stuck in an economic and political crisis.
Protesters could be seen having their hair cut for free as dozens more played instruments, waved Lebanese flags and wore masks of the Central Bank governor, Riad Salameh, who recently announced that there would be no haircut imposed on depositors.
A visible angry protester who was having her hair cut, Maha, stated: “Haircutting must be on the bank that does not pay money and on the rich people who are transferring their money abroad. We want the country to flourish. We now can not suffice ourselves why haircutting on us it should be on the rich.”
“Haircutting should be on the money holders and not on the poor people”, added the hairdresser Elie Makhlouf.
Protests have been taking place across Lebanon for several weeks, as demonstrators call for the overhaul of the national political system, which they deem inadequate to address the country’s economic and social problems.
The ongoing movement is considered to be the largest public mobilisation the country has seen since 2015. The movement, which began on October 17, has so far resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
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