Levant Conference urges Berlin to enact laws to reduce threat of Muslim Brotherhood
September 30, 2021, 2:59 am

Levant-conference

On Wednesday, September 29, 2021, The Levant newspaper and the Levant Center for Strategic Studies held a conference in partnership with the German Diplomatic Institute / Berlin, under the title: “Political Islam and Europe: Understanding the dynamics in political Islam towards policy developments and an appropriate European approach.”

The conference was attended by a group of professors, researchers, academics and journalists from Germany and the European Union, with the participation of a number of German organizations, and heads of a number of German research centers.

Among the most prominent academic and political figures in Germany, who is specialized in the subject of political Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood, is Mr. Michael Laubsch, a German strategic expert in combating extremism, a security expert and specialist in political Islam, and a former foreign policy advisor in Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe to the German Parliament.

Mr. Michael Laubsch spoke about the ideological origins of the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe, and why they pose a threat to everyone, as well as discussing the strategy and aspirations of the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe and financial support for the Brotherhood through foreign channels.

Laubsch referred to the funding sources, the danger of the organization to Europe and the Arab world, and he mentioned famous names for the Brotherhood organization, including Al-Qaradawi and his relationship with Qatar and research centers and universities in Qatar.

He also talked on the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as the most famous Brotherhood figure in France, Tariq Ramadan, and their role in serving the Muslim Brotherhood project globally.

Senator Dr. Jeremias Kettner, a German expert on foreign policy, founder of the Kettner Consulting Company, and Deputy Director of the House of Arab Culture, discussed the war of narratives and the role of dialogue: “Cultural diplomacy as a bridge between East and West.”

While Dr. Dietrich Reetz of the Free University of Berlin, Berlin Graduate School of Muslim Cultures and Societies, Department of Political Science, gave a presentation on the diversity of Islamic theological and political views in Europe.

The presentation clearly explained the dangers of Islamic political movements in Europe and other countries, and their terrifying extension in a large number of countries around the world.

Ambassador Karl Eric Norrman, who is a former Swedish diplomat, the founder and general secretary of the European Cultural Parliament: a faculty member: the Academy of the German Diplomatic Institute; And lecturer in European studies and politics, a remarkable presence.

Ambassador Karl Eric Norrman lectured on the subject of political Islam and the European response in combating political Islam, whether political Islam represented by the Muslim Brotherhood movement and its danger, or political Islam represented by Iranian Shiite thought and Khomeini's movement in Iran.

The conference elicited interaction between German organizations and research centers, which expressed their thanks and gratitude to the Levant Newspaper and the Levant Center for Strategic Studies as well as the German Diplomatic Institute. They also expressed their desire to cooperate in the future with the Levant Center for Strategic Research.

The conference concluded with Dr. Norrman and researcher Sana Ali from Berlin, writing and submitting all recommendations to the German Parliament and the German government, calling for the enactment of laws to reduce the threat of the Muslim Brotherhood in Germany, protect liberal Muslims and protect German society at the same time.

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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.