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Refugees Are Used as a Bargaining Chip Between Countries

Day by day, it becomes clear that there is no morality in politics at all, particularly in international relations. This conclusion might be somewhat axiomatic, but what is shocking is the new manifestations of the eternal dissonance between politics and morals.
One of these new manifestations is how various countries involved have exploited the international refugee crisis to serve their own agendas and interests. Of course, all this is at the expense of ignoring humanitarian and ethical dimensions of this exacerbating predicament.
The exploitation of the refugee crisis by different governments as a bargaining chip against each other is blatant evidence of the immorality of international politics.
The manipulation of the refugee card was accompanied by a disregard for their safety and lives. In addition to the harsh treatment, they have received from some transit countries while heading to Western Europe. The last chapter in this vivid tragedy was the death of 27 migrants who drowned in the English Channel while trying to reach Britain coming from France.
In recent years, several states have openly used the refugee card as a bargaining chip and blackmail against each other. Turkey is taking advantage of the Syrian refugee crisis against the EU. Belarus, at Russia's behest, uses refugees to harass and blackmail the EU. France bothers Britain when turns a blind eye to the activities of smugglers who send refugees on death boats to Britain. Britain, in turn, complicates asylum laws so that no one thinks of taking the risk to reaching British lands and applying for asylum. Poland deals brutally with refugees stranded in Belarus and prevents them from entering its territory as a transit station to Western Europe.
Turkey, Russia, Belarus, and Poland are signatories to the 1951 Special Convention on Refugees and the 1967 Protocol, but in practice they are not bound by and violate the provisions of the convention.
Last month, Poland deployed about 20,000 soldiers on its border with Belarus to prevent trapped refugees from crossing into its territory to reach Western Europe. Soldiers used water cannons and tear gas to thwart refugees and migrants from reaching their destination. Journalists were also prohibited from arriving at the scene to cover the events. The UN described the harsh Polish dealing with migrants as a violation of humanitarian laws and the right to asylum, which seems to be little by little turning into mere ink on paper.
Although Poland is a member of the EU, but it does not abide by the laws of the EU and infringes them in terms of closing its borders to refugees and treating them harshly. Major EU countries such as Germany and France do not object to the actions of the Polish government. This means that those countries are somewhat satisfied with this inhumane behaviour towards immigrants.
The EU is the first to use refugees as a bargaining chip in foreign policies between countries. In 2016, the EU succumbed to Turkish blackmail regarding sending tens of thousands of Syrian refugees to Greek islands and then to Western Europe. The EU overlooked Turkey's poor human rights record in exchange for the latter's prevention of refugees from going to Greek islands.
The EU adopted similar policies towards refugees stuck in Libya, as it provided support to the Libyan Coast Guard to prevent refugees from reaching Italy via the Mediterranean. Note that the EU is fully aware of the horrific violations committed by Tripoli militias against migrants in detention centres that lack the most basic humanitarian elements.
Turning refugees into a bargaining chip between many governments and endangering their lives is evidence of the moral bankruptcy of international politics in this field. But what is shocking is the contribution of some old European democracies such as France, Germany and Britain to this tragedy that does not seem to end soon.
The 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol seem to no longer have any effect. Therefore, we might witness a repudiation of this Agreement in the future. Moreover, we may see the adoption of new treaties in this regard in line with the actual policies pursued by the concerned countries.
Nobody wants to leave their home, their family, their country and become a refugee in diaspora. But it is oppression, poverty, civil wars, and the hope of finding a better life that drive millions to take this adventure.
BY: Jwan Dibo
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
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.
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