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Mystery Surrounds Hamsho's Fate in Damascus Between House Arrest and Settlement
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Mohammad Hamsho's continued special privileges in Damascus raise questions about the new authorities' seriousness in holding former regime figures accountable and achieving justice

The legal status of Mohammad Hamsho, the former economic front for Maher Al-Assad, remains shrouded in mystery amid conflicting official statements and reports of a special settlement protecting him from accountability.
Field monitoring by "Daraj" showed active movement around Hamsho's house in Damascus's Malki district, where he was seen accompanied by security guards from the Interior Ministry of the Syrian Interim Caretaker Government.
Security sources close to military operations management revealed that the latter requested Hamsho to remain in the country, while family sources linked his presence to a Qatari role, given that his sister's children, Motaz Raslan Al-Khayyat, hold Qatari citizenship.
The Economy Minister in the caretaker government, Basel Abdul Hannan, explained that a judicial committee will determine the fate of former businessmen's assets, denying that Hamsho paid a settlement worth one billion dollars.
Hamsho emerged as an economic front for Maher Al-Assad, establishing a financial empire in telecommunications, real estate, and media, accused of financing the killing machine operated by the former regime.
Reports indicated that Hamsho's presence was imposed on the new administration through Turkish-Qatari mediation, despite being subject to US and European sanctions since 2011 that included his family, and accusations of trafficking in destroyed homes' rubble.
UN documents revealed that companies linked to Hamsho received millions of dollars from international organizations, while Lebanese investigations connected him to storing suspicious goods in drug dealer Hassan Daqou's warehouses.
The Hamsho case remains a test of credibility for the special courts planned to be established in the new Syria, and their ability to achieve justice and recover looted funds.
Levant-Agencies
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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