A conference to stamp out hate speech held in Tel Aviv
June 2, 2021, 5:38 pm

A conference to stamp out hate speech held in Tel Aviv

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The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation hosted a virtual conference on hate speech. It discussed rising levels of the problem in society.

The conference held in partnership with the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities and Yala Young Leaders, aimed to educate youth on the different forms of hate, the impact it has on individuals as well as communities, and how they can identify and combat hate in their communities.

Australia, Israel, Germany, Turkey, the USA, Nigeria Palestine, France and Switzerland were among the participants in the virtual event.

the event confirmed hate speech is a speech that incites hatred or prejudice towards a group based on race, nationality, ethnicity, country of origin, ethno-religious identity, religion, sexuality, gender identity or gender.

Dr Andre Oboler, CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute discussed the impact of social media in amplifying hate speech.

He outlined solutions that include the use of data and AI, the use of content moderators, and the ability of the community to police itself through enhanced reporting functions within each social media platform.

He said: “The danger is not so much that people might read content inspired by hate speech, but rather that they may be induced to accept it as a valid point of view, a fact of life, or something with which one may or may not agree, but not something whose dissemination one should oppose.

The participants called for social media companies to invest more heavily in preventing and addressing hate speech on their platforms. Dr Oboler led a lively discussion on how society should balance the right to free speech with mitigating the harms from hate speech, including the role governments play in defining what free speech is and whether it should include, for example, incitement to violence.

Speaking on behalf of the IAFSC, Sean Patrick said, “Hate crime and the use of religion as a political tool is increasing all the time. The harm that hate crime causes to individuals, the sub-group and the whole community leads to a negative socio-economic impact as a whole. The impact can be felt on society, the economy, technology, the security, and the overall safety of communities.” Sean added: “Our working model is simple but effective. We work towards eliminating these issues by encouraging dialogue between all stakeholders like this workshop today, the development of practical response tool kits and by fostering partnerships that bridge gaps.

Hajar from Morocco, a Yala Young Leaders alum who participated in the event said, “The timing for this session was on point. Today, social media has exposed the ugly face of our world; we're witnessing terrifying rates of hate crime all over the globe. It's very important to understand what hate crime is for us to be able to recognize it and then fight it and that's exactly what the workshop provided us.”

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.