Forced Displacement and Violence in Arza Village in Northern Hama Countryside
Armed elements seizing civilian homes indicates a state of chaos and lawlessness in areas suffering from power vacuum and lack of accountability
April 11, 2025, 10:47 pm

Forced Displacement and Violence in Arza Village in Northern Hama Countryside

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that horrific acts of violence occurred in Arza village in the northern Hama countryside, leaving 32 civilian casualties, including 3 children and a woman, who were directly executed on February 1 of this year and March 7.

Details of the first incident show that 10 civilians from the area were killed by unknown gunmen, leaving behind a village shrouded in silence and fear.

This incident was not isolated but was followed by another in the Syrian coast on March 7, where 22 more civilians were killed by elements from the Ministries of Defense and Interior, along with supporting forces, after armed groups attacked members of the General Security and caused their deaths.

Since then, a deadly silence has prevailed over Arza village, as survivors have either been forcibly displaced or visit their village in disguise, fearing killing or arrest.

Forces affiliated with the Ministries of Defense and Interior and supporting forces returned to the village in early April, where they destroyed graves and attacked religious sites, in a scene reflecting an attempt to erase the place's identity and history.

The seizure of civilian homes has become a systematic approach, extending to neighboring villages as well, in the absence of any accountability or official investigations. Sources indicate that armed elements forcibly control these homes and prevent their original owners from returning to them.

If any resident attempts to return to their village and is spotted by these elements, they are not allowed to leave unless they sign a lease or sale contract for the home, or any legal document that ensures the elements' control over the property.

Sources explained that the ID cards of civilians who fled the village remain held by these elements, to be used in case a fact-finding committee arrives. Members of these forces present themselves as the original ID holders in an attempt to hide the truth and falsify the reality of the region.

Amid these tense conditions, a person working as an educational supervisor in Hama emerged through a post on social media, in which he directed inflammatory sectarian rhetoric against the people of Arza village, sparking a wave of anger and condemnation among followers who saw such rhetoric as opening the door to more violence and societal division.

These unfortunate events are an indicator of continuing violations in some Syrian areas, amid the absence of any effective international intervention or independent human rights monitoring, threatening the security and stability of local communities and deepening the suffering of civilians who face various types of persecution and violence.

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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.