A woman calling for the release from detention of Bassam Hussein, who held hostages in a bank last week in Beirut. AP
A woman calling for the release from detention of Bassam Hussein, who held hostages in a bank last week in Beirut. AP
A woman calling for the release from detention of Bassam Hussein, who held hostages in a bank last week in Beirut. AP
A woman calling for the release from detention of Bassam Hussein, who held hostages in a bank last week in Beirut. AP


In Lebanon, robbing your own bank now makes you a hero


  • English
  • Arabic

August 18, 2022

When Bassam Al Sheikh Hussein took several people hostage in a bank in the Lebanese capital of Beirut last week, unsurprisingly, people quickly gathered around the perimeter to watch as the drama unfolded.

What is surprising, however, was the crowd’s response. In footage captured by The National, many were sympathetic towards Mr Al SheikhHussein. His supporters chanted, “We are all Bassam” and “Down with the rule of the banks!”

Mr Al Sheikh Hussein’s actions were unlawful, and should not be condoned. He fired shots and told police he would kill the hostages and self-immolate unless he could access his $210,000 in life savings.

But much of public opinion in Lebanon has sided with him. He eventually walked away with $35,000, which he says will go to paying for his father’s urgent medical treatment. And fortunately, the hostages escaped uninjured.

On Friday, members of Mr Al Sheikh Hussein’s family were joined by supporters who blocked a road to protest against his detention, which they say was breach of the agreement that was made to end the standoff. One of his lawyers said he had been detained without a clear charge.

  • Bassam Al Sheikh Hussein, an armed man who took hostages at a Federal Bank branch in Beirut, sits in a police car after his arrest. AFP
    Bassam Al Sheikh Hussein, an armed man who took hostages at a Federal Bank branch in Beirut, sits in a police car after his arrest. AFP
  • He was arrested as he left the bank. EPA
    He was arrested as he left the bank. EPA
  • He held several customers hostage as he demanded the return of his bank deposits so that he could pay his father's medical bills. AFP
    He held several customers hostage as he demanded the return of his bank deposits so that he could pay his father's medical bills. AFP
  • A woman who was held hostage inside the Federal bank of Lebanon enters a car after her release. Reuters
    A woman who was held hostage inside the Federal bank of Lebanon enters a car after her release. Reuters
  • Mr Al Sheikh Hussein was reportedly armed with a rifle and is said to have doused the interior of the bank with petrol. AP
    Mr Al Sheikh Hussein was reportedly armed with a rifle and is said to have doused the interior of the bank with petrol. AP
  • A woman held hostage in the bank cries. AP
    A woman held hostage in the bank cries. AP
  • The siege ended without violence eight hours later on Thursday when the gunman reportedly left the bank and was arrested. Reuters
    The siege ended without violence eight hours later on Thursday when the gunman reportedly left the bank and was arrested. Reuters
  • Many sympathised with Mr Al Sheikh Hussein and took part in protests outside the bank as they denounced local lenders and chanted 'We are all Bassam'. AP
    Many sympathised with Mr Al Sheikh Hussein and took part in protests outside the bank as they denounced local lenders and chanted 'We are all Bassam'. AP
  • Lebanese bank customers stand near the bank where the armed man took customers and employees hostage. EPA
    Lebanese bank customers stand near the bank where the armed man took customers and employees hostage. EPA
  • A Lebanese security official said Mr Al Sheikh Hussein was threatening to set himself ablaze unless he received his savings. AP
    A Lebanese security official said Mr Al Sheikh Hussein was threatening to set himself ablaze unless he received his savings. AP
  • The demonstrations grew more heated, with protesters facing off against security forces dressed in riot gear. AP
    The demonstrations grew more heated, with protesters facing off against security forces dressed in riot gear. AP
  • Army soldiers, behind, and security forces, front, stand guard outside the bank in Beirut. AFP
    Army soldiers, behind, and security forces, front, stand guard outside the bank in Beirut. AFP
  • The incident is the latest between local banks and angry depositors unable to access their savings because of informal capital controls. Jamie Prentis / The National
    The incident is the latest between local banks and angry depositors unable to access their savings because of informal capital controls. Jamie Prentis / The National
  • At least two shots were heard after the man entered the branch just before noon, according to witnesses and local media. Some customers managed to escape before he shut the branch doors. AP
    At least two shots were heard after the man entered the branch just before noon, according to witnesses and local media. Some customers managed to escape before he shut the branch doors. AP
  • The Lebanese Red Cross on standby outside the bank, which was cordoned off by security forces. Reuters
    The Lebanese Red Cross on standby outside the bank, which was cordoned off by security forces. Reuters
  • Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Mr Al Sheikh Hussein was demanding to withdraw $210,000 and had threatened to set himself ablaze and kill everyone at the bank. Reuters
    Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Mr Al Sheikh Hussein was demanding to withdraw $210,000 and had threatened to set himself ablaze and kill everyone at the bank. Reuters
  • His father was in hospital and required $50,000 worth of treatment, according to the Association of Depositors in Lebanon. Reuters
    His father was in hospital and required $50,000 worth of treatment, according to the Association of Depositors in Lebanon. Reuters

It is understandable that authorities feel the need to do something. If only they applied the same determination in pursuing those responsible for Lebanon's financial meltdown. For example, Lebanon's central bank governor, Riad Salameh, who is widely viewed as playing a key role in the economic dysfunction. Every time efforts are made to arrest him, he is nowhere to be found. In March, he was charged with money laundering and illicit enrichment.

On Tuesday, Mr Al Sheikh Hussein was released without charge. An image then circulated on social media of him with his unwell father.

In a normal situation, the arrest of someone who acted so dangerously would be uncontroversial. In a country as broken as Lebanon, however, his actions have been viewed by many not as criminal recklessness, but a desperate, last ditch attempt to save a family member. It is important to remember that he was attempting to take money that already belonged to him.

The crowds that have since thronged to support him redirect blame entirely towards Lebanon's corrupt elite. Since the economy's collapse in 2019, the political class has been widely condemned for causing the crisis and doing nothing to help the country.

The vast majority of the population, like Mr Al Sheikh Hussein, only have Lebanese banks to hold their money. But these institutions have imposed informal capital controls for years, greatly restricting the availability of hard currency. Instead, most can only access the Lebanese pound, which, since 2019, has dropped in value by a massive 90 per cent.

It's not just the economy. Mr Al Sheikh Hussein's ill father finds himself suffering in a fast-deteriorating healthcare system. Workers are striking over unpaid wages, medication is running low and thousands of highly trained staff are going abroad.

The crisis in Lebanon is turning the country's economy upside down. The story of a hostage taker turning into a Robin Hood-style figure shows that the very idea of criminality is changing, too, and that many view the law and those who uphold it as an integral part of the problem.

This time, reality is more absurd than legend. Mr Al Sheikh Hussein did not steal from the rich to give to the poor. He stole from himself to give to his father. He should not be lionised. But there is no hiding from the fact that his many supporters view the most dangerous thieves in today's Lebanon not as the ones that target Beirut's banks.

Rather, they are the tiny minority who have taken from everyone else.

Another way to earn air miles

In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.

An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.

“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

LIVERPOOL SQUAD

Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez, Adrian, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Andy Lonergan, Xherdan Shaqiri, Andy Robertson, Divock Origi, Curtis Jones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Neco Williams

Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayvn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristopher%20Flinos%2C%20Ahmed%20Ismail%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efinancial%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2044%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseries%20B%20in%20the%20second%20half%20of%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHilbert%20Capital%2C%20Red%20Acre%20Ventures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre

Power: 325hp

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh189,700

On sale: now

Uefa Champions League last 16 draw

Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur

Basel v Manchester City

Sevilla v  Manchester United

Porto v Liverpool

Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain

Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma

Chelsea v Barcelona

Bayern Munich v Besiktas

HOW TO WATCH

Facebook: TheNationalNews  

Twitter: @thenationalnews  

Instagram: @thenationalnews.com  

TikTok: @thenationalnews 

Updated: August 27, 2022, 10:27 AM