A Crossroads Reveals Turkey's Fears of Denying Kurdish Identity Consequences
Escalating Turkish fears of partition possibilities have led to reconsidering traditional policies toward the Kurdish issue after their failure to end the conflict
October 31, 2024, 8:27 pm

A Crossroads Reveals Turkey's Fears of Denying Kurdish Identity Consequences

البرلمان التركي

The first peace attempts in ten years have emerged to end a four-decade conflict between Turkey and Kurdish militants, amid accelerating regional changes that raise Ankara's fears about the consequences of its historical policies in denying Kurdish identity.

Turkish fears of increasing Kurdish influence in Syria and Iraq reveal a deep crisis facing Ankara due to decades of national assimilation policies, which included banning the Kurdish language, denying Kurdish nationality, and committing massacres against Kurdish civilians.

Politicians and analysts told Reuters that the peace initiative proposed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ally reflects a belated recognition of the failure of repressive policies in resolving the Kurdish issue, especially with the growth of Kurdish national awareness in the region.

While the recent PKK attack in Ankara confirms the difficulty of resuming peace talks, experts believe Turkey now fears that continuing denial and repression policies could threaten its territorial unity, especially with increasing international support for Kurdish rights.

A peaceful solution represents an opportunity for Turkey to correct historical mistakes, as it would ease the burden on its security forces and boost the economy of the Kurdish-majority southeast, while paving the way for addressing the historical injustice suffered by the Kurds.

Kurds hope any settlement will include official recognition of their identity and cultural and linguistic rights, in a radical shift from the forced "Turkification" policies practiced by the Turkish state since its establishment.

Analysts link Turkish officials' silence regarding peace plans to the difficulty of abandoning decades of hardline nationalist ideology, despite their awareness of the risks of continued conflict amid regional changes.

Vahap Coşkun, a lecturer at Dicle University, confirms that regional dynamics are forcing Turkey to reconsider its policies, especially with the increasing cost of denying the Kurdish issue amid regional instability.

The proposal by Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli regarding bringing Abdullah Öcalan to parliament surprised observers, given its contradiction with the traditional hardline Turkish right's position in refusing any recognition of Kurdish identity.

Despite ruling coalition deputies' reservations about the initiative, observers see its mere proposal reflecting a shift in Turkish awareness of the need to address the roots of the Kurdish problem, rather than continuing denial and repression policies that have proven their failure.

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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.