German “Jihadist” growing risk to homeland
February 22, 2021, 12:29 pm

German “Jihadist” growing risk to homeland

It is well known, that the spread of Salafist ideology in Germany has had a significant impact on the local Muslim communities. The mechanisms of this spread are various, from the Internet to in-person social networks, translated books, and other publications, which promote Salafist interpretations of Islamic concepts, often amplified by translations of fatwas (Islamic rulings) from Arabic scholars. The jihadi version of Salafism has spread in Germany over the last three years and thrown a serious challenge to the influence of official Islamic institutions. < 1> Jihadist

Reports said fourteen people have been arrested in Denmark and Germany on suspicion of preparing one or several attacks in the two countries, Danish police said. Officers added that the discovery of a so-called Isis group flag could indicate the suspects “have a connection or sympathy with the terror organisation”. Flemming Drejer, operative head of Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service, said the findings were “worrying” but “it is our assessment that there was no imminent danger”. <2>

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on 20^th-Dec 2020 ,he was “relieved” that a “humanitarian” recovery operation had brought home 18 children and five “Islamic State” (IS) brides from Kurdish-run internment camps in north-eastern Syria. Humanitarian reasons have been cited for flying, home – Germany, several ‘IS’ brides and children from internment in Syria. At the height of the civil war, the women allegedly travelled to join the”IS”.

The reluctance of many countries, including Germany, to take back citizens deemed radicalized IS-associates has often been challenged by family lawyers, acting for grandparents, and aid groups such as the Red Cross. <3>

Approximately 300 Islamist fighters who have returned to Germany from IS-held territory in Syria and Iraq on the 1st-July, 2020, there were 109 classified as agitators and 90 as “relevant persons.”All in all, the authorities estimate that nearly 30,000 people in Germany are potential supporters of Islamist terrorism. Most of them, more than 12,000, are Salafists. Their circles were and remain the main support base for violent jihadist. <4>

More than 120 Islamists in Germany pose a “high risk,” according to the country’s investigative police agency. A deadly attack in Dresden last month forced authorities to increase surveillance of dangerous Islamists. In response to a parliamentary question by the Green Party, Germany’s BKA Federal Criminal Police Office revealed there are currently 124 “high risk” Islamists at large in the country. <5>

A Syrian ISIS terrorist who is accused of stabbing a tourist to death in Germany while under observation wanted to cut out Christians’ tongues, it has been revealed.Abdullah AHH, 20, was arrested on Wednesday for the attack which saw Thomas L, 55, stabbed to death and another man, 53, seriously injured in Dresden on 4th-October.2020 . <6>

Some 109 Islamists were in custody in Syria at the end of last month, and a further 10 in Iraqi custody, according to the BKA figures. The BKA knows of 266 Islamists who had left Germany and were killed in Syria or Iraq.More than 1,070 Islamists traveled to the region and evidence suggests around 50% of them fought for, or supported, Islamist groups. <7>

The German authorities know how dangerous are the returning ISIS members and their families on the security of the German society. The returning ISIS members are an interactive issue in Germany because returning the German citizens from Syria will be “very difficult,” especially because there is no evidence of their involvement in fighting for ISIS. In addition, some of them are committed to the group’s ideology or keep in contact with sleeper cells of local extremists. <8>

Lewis Sanders said in his report on DW, Career foreign fighters fuel conflict in the Middle East, that thousands of foreign fighters have returned to their home countries after fighting with terror groups. But those who stay behind and move on to other conflicts pose an ever-growing risk to the region and their homeland.

Since the rise of the militant group “Islamic State” (IS), European governments have struggled with the issue of whether to repatriate citizens who left to join terrorist organizations in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Intelligence investigations revealed that it is difficult to de-radicalize those who joined ISIS and spent years under the umbrella of the so-called “Caliphate State.” Officials of the German government-run al-Hayat program that aiming to prevent radicalization have admitted that their attempts failed. French and Dutch programs implemented by governments also announced their failure. However, programs to prevent radicalization can be implemented on new radicalized persons locally. The statistics confirmed that the pace of recruitment of women has increased in the wake of the successive defeats of ISIS. Jihadist

Reference

< 1> bit.ly/3aJvHcF

<2> bit.ly/2MhaNYW

<3> bit.ly/3pCkHBW

<4> bit.ly/3uoVL4n

<5> bit.ly/3slmBZB

<6> bit.ly/3qNh916

<7> bit.ly/2NR0pY1

<8> bit.ly/3qOVPsg

Bonn - Jassim Mohamad levant

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British arms sales prolonging Saudi war in Yemen, says Oxfam Retuming To Negotiations

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.