A protest in solidarity with Yemeni women in Geneva and calls for the inclusion of the Houthis in the lists of terrorism
March 3, 2020, 3:22 pm

Geneva

With the approaching International Women's Day, which falls on March 8, European organizations allied for peace and Rasd coalition organized today, Saturday, February 29, 2020, a solidarity protest in Geneva against violations by the Houthi militia against women and children.

According to the organizers of the event, the protest was aimed at communicating the voice of women and clarifying the reality experienced by these women and the violations, crimes, and practices that they are exposed to by the Houthi militia, In addition to urging the international community and human rights actors to intervene to stop these violations.

The protest included: the opening speech delivered by Professor Murad Al-Garti, head of Tamkeen for Human Rights, in which he welcomed the attendees on behalf of European organizations allied for peace and Rasd coalition, and explained the goals and objectives of the stand.

Then, Professor Nora Al-Jarawi gave a speech in the name of the imprisoned women, who gave a live testimony about what women are exposed to in the prisons of the Houthi militia and mentioned numbers and statistics and called for the importance of the move to save them.

The solidarity protest was moderated by Dr. Faris Al-Bail. Dr. Arwa Al-Khattabi also delivered a speech during which she compared the situation of women during the era of the Imamate and the Houthis, what they had suffered and what they are suffering today and the identicality of the conditions under the rule of both sides. Activist, Mansour Al-Shadadi, stressed the importance of the international community's role in protecting women's rights. He also spoke about IFA International for Youth and stressed the significance of the support of international NGOs for women's rights.

Geneva

And participated in the organization and coordination of the stand, and the formulation of recommendations, the Yemeni doctor and activist, Wissam Basandouh, President of the March 8 bloc for the sake of Yemen women, which includes in his preparatory committee more than one hundred Yemeni women leaders and activists from inside and outside Yemen.

Dr. Basendouh

Dr. Basendouh presented an exclusive statement to Levent newspaper on the reality of Yemeni women in light of the Houthi hegemony. She urged the international community to "remind the international community of the violations committed by the Houthis against the Yemeni community in general, and the Yemeni woman in particular, which does not stop at the theft of aid, rape and the practice of all available torture methods." The Yemeni activist stated, "We currently have 288 Yemeni women detained after the number reached 800 women arrested earlier." And she emphasized that these women were subjected to the most heinous violations, such as "ironing, rape, and burning, and most of these women were forcibly disappeared, and prohibited from communicating with their families."

In the same context, she called for the whole world to "release the women detainees and restore the rights of the raped Yemeni women" and called for "the inclusion of the Houthi militia on its blacklists, and for it to be considered a terrorist militia because its practices are no less criminal than those of Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards."

It is noteworthy that the protest included chanting various slogans, raising Yemeni flags and banners denouncing Houthi crimes and violations, and about 200 solidarity activists participated in it.

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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.