Rights activist criticizes Germany for racist treatment of refugees
April 22, 2022, 4:30 pm

Rights activist criticizes Germany for racist treatment of refugees

Syrian mother and her child-Syrian refugees/Facebook page

The Anews reported, citing Anadolu Agency that Berlin-based refugee rights activist on Friday (Apr 22) harshly criticized the German government for what he said was its unequal treatment of refugees from Ukraine and the Middle East on racial grounds.

Biplab Basu told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview: "It's disgusting because people who are running away from war, who are running away from bombings would be treated differently."

Basu, who is a consultant at the non-governmental organization ReachOut, added: "It is rampant that refugees from the Middle East, India, Pakistan, and various African countries have been treated completely differently and in a racial manner."

He stressed that the discrimination against non-European refugees in Germany had to be "condemned."

Basu went on to say: "This is racial discrimination. As you say brown and blue-eyed people are being treated differently."

"It's disgusting because people who are running away from war, who are running away from bombings would be treated differently." (Photo: Pixabay)

There have been widespread German media reports that Ukrainian refugees have received preferential treatment compared to their Middle Eastern and African counterparts.

While Ukrainian refugees can easily enter Germany, Middle Easterners and Africans are reportedly being harassed by German border police.

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Furthermore, non-European refugees are reportedly being evicted from their shelters and homes in Germany to make room for Ukrainian refugees.

Meanwhile, Basu confirmed media reports about the ongoing discrimination, while pointing out that the justice minister of the state of Berlin had in fact given a recent statement against the mistreatment of non-European refugees.

Basu said: "We have reports from people who were not accepted or who were taken out of the queues by the federal police at the railway station Hauptbahnhof in Berlin, and they were taken to the police station and kept for hours and questioned. So the German government can stop that."

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"I am not saying that the German government should go to Poland and stop people from being discriminated against, but it can do it in its own territories," the activist said, adding the government should send a very strong signal to the European partners not to treat refugees from the Middle East or Asia or Africa on racial grounds.

The report noted that more than 350,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered Germany since the Russia-Ukraine war started on Feb. 24.

Source: anews

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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.