Exhibition on the 1988 massacre in Iran
October 3, 2019, 1:13 pm

Exhibition on the 1988 massacre in Iran

Anglo-Iranian community to call on the UK Government to recognise the mass execution of political prisoners in Iran and to act at the UN to end impunity for the perpetrators who hold power in the country

On the eve of World Day against the Death Penalty, the Anglo-Iranian community will hold an exhibition on the 1988 massacre of thousands of political prisoners in Iran on Friday, 4 October, to raise awareness about one of the worst crimes against humanity in the modern time and demand accountability for Iran regime officials responsible for serious human rights violations in the country.

In a statement on 28 August, Amnesty International reiterated that international community must no longer ignore the 1988 prison massacres in Iran and said, “It is misguided to view the 1988 mass killings as historical events. The enforced disappearances are ongoing and, 30 years later, victims’ families continue to be tormented by anguish and uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.”

Members of parliament, former political prisoners and families of the victims will speak at the exhibition and urge the UK Government to make good of its previous promise of calling on the UN Special rapporteur to investigate human rights concerns in Iran, including the 1988 mass executions and the recent destruction of mass graves.

Together with cross-party MPs, they will call on the UK Government to work with allies at the UN and EU to refer Iran regime’s appalling human rights record, including the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, to the UN Security Council for prosecution of those responsible in an international tribunal.

Date and Time: Friday, 4 October 2019, 11am

Venue: Outside UK Parliament

Background

The 1988 prison massacres refers to the extrajudicial and summery execution of thousands of political prisoners in prisons across Iran during the summer of 1988 following an order from the then Supreme Leader, Khomeini. The 1988 massacre was highlighted and documented by the previous UN Special Rapporteur on Iran in the 2017 report that was transmitted to the General Assembly. At least 100 regime officials who supervised and carried out these mass executions across Iran have been identified.

Many of those responsible for this massacre hold senior and ministerial positions in Iran. For example both the head of regime’s Judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, and the current Justice Minister are two of the dozens senior regime officials responsible of the massacre.

Earlier this summer, regime officials publicly defended the massacre in interviews will state media, which targeted members and supporters of Iran’s main opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK). This is while over 7000 people from all sectors of Iran’s society were arrested during 2018 alone for participating in the ongoing nationwide popular protests against the regime.

Amnesty International criticised these comments in a public statement on 30 July as shocking statements by senior official which highlight impunity for 1988 prison massacres and said:

Comments by Mostafa Pour Mohammadi, advisor to Iran’s head of the judiciary and a former minister of justice, “propagate the same false narratives that Iranian authorities have used for decades to hide the truth that, between July and September 1988, they forcibly disappeared and extrajudicially executed several thousand unjustly imprisoned political dissidents in secret as part of a systematic effort to eliminate political opposition.”

“Current and former Iranian officials must not be allowed to shield themselves from accountability for the mass extrajudicial executions through campaigns of disinformation and threats of reprisals against anyone looking to shed light on them.”

Amnesty International and other NGOs have described the massacre as an ongoing crime against humanity and called for an UN-led investigation to hold the perpetrators to account. In 2016, 80 cross-party MPs in the UK House of Parliament, supported a parliamentary motion urging the UK Government to recognise and condemn this brutal massacre as a crime against humanity and ask the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Human Rights Council, the General Assembly and the Security Council to order an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Today, the demand for truth and justice is increasing both internationally and domestically manifested by a growing support for the international campaign for justice both in West and inside Iran.

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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.