RSF calls for release of journalist held in Rojava
August 31, 2023, 4:45 pm

RSF calls for release of journalist held in Rojava

برزان حسين ليانإي

Barzan Hussein Liyani, a former ARK TV correspondent, was in his office in Al-Muabbada (Girkê Legê in Kurdish), a town in Rojava, the region in northeastern Syria that is under Kurdish control, on 15 August when six masked gunmen arrived, handcuffed him and took him away in their vehicle.

Witnesses say the men identified themselves as members of the security forces affiliated to the autonomous government running Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan). Liyani’s family still have no idea where he is being held, but suspect he was arrested in connection with his journalistic activities, which he ceased just three months ago. When questioned by RSF, neither the administrative nor military authorities provided any information about what had happened to him.

“The spectacularly staged, heavy-handed arrest of Barzan Liyani is an act of intimidation aimed at journalists, while his enforced detention reflects a total contempt for the law on the part of the Kurdish administration, combined with an intolerance of pluralism and criticism. We urge the Kurdish administration to release Barzan Liyani at once and to stop flouting the rights of critical journalists.

Jonathan Dagher

Head of RSF’s Middle East desk

Liyani’s brother, Marwan Liyani, was in a nearby shop when the arrest took place. Alerted by his son, he rushed to Barzan’s office with the aim of trying to negotiate with the security officers.

“It was terrifying,” he told RSF. “I saw my brother's head covered with a black cloth and his arms tied behind his back. One of the men pushed me away. We fought. They tore my clothes and kicked me in the chest before starting their car and driving away with my brother inside.”

When Liyani’s 18-year-old son tried to defend his father, he was also violently pushed away by the masked gunmen.

Marwan said Liyani stopped working as ARK TV’s correspondent three months ago following a decline in the volume of work and had been running a tourism agency in the town since then.He nonetheless remained in the Kurdish government’s sights because of his former journalistic activities and his links with ARK TV, a TV channel close to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the ruling party in neighbouring Iraqi Kurdistan, which is opposed to the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the party running Syrian Kurdistan. Like other Syrian and Iraqi journalists, he seems to have paid a price for the rivalry between the two Kurdistans.

When RSF questioned the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the official armed forces in Syrian Kurdistan, they referred RSF to the civilian administration, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). The AANES did not respond to RSF’s questions.

In 2017, when he was a correspondent of Zagros TV (another pro-KDP media outlet), Liyani was arrested at a military checkpoint and was held for six months. The SDF arrested him again at his home in July 2021 and held him for three months. Another ARK TV correspondent, Ahmad Soufi, had meanwhile also been arrested by the SDF in March of 2021.

Since 2022. RSF had been sounding the alarm about the increasingly hostile environment for journalists in Syrian Kurdistan, where more and more restrictions are being imposed on their work.

At least ten other journalists have been the victims of enforced disappearance in Syria as a whole since the start of the Syrian uprising in 2011, and two of them are still detained. In all, 34 journalists are registered as missing in Syria, 64 are registered as detained, and 120 are registered as held hostage. These are among the highest figures in the world.

BY: rsf.org

Message from the Syrian city of Suwayda to the Security Council and the European Parliament Joint Statement on Recent Unrest in Deir Ezzor

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.