Syrian families and activists around world urge UN to establish international body to uncover fate of Syria’s disappeared
March 28, 2023, 12:40 pm

Syrian families and activists around world urge UN to establish international body to uncover fate of Syria’s disappeared

سجون الأسد (أرشيف)

Syrian family groups have urged UN member states to take immediate action to establish an institution to reveal the fate and whereabouts of forcibly disappeared and missing persons in Syria, ahead of an interactive dialogue, which will be held by the UN General Assembly, on 28 March.

In an open letter, 10 survivor and victims’ family associations who form the Truth and Justice Charter Group call on member states to demonstrate their full support for the creation of a victim-centered international body that will consolidate their demands, gather data, search for those forcibly disappeared, and locate and identify the remains of those who are no longer alive.

Their call is backed by at least 90 family and survivor groups, NGOs and civil society activists from across the world in a global demonstration of solidarity for the Syrian cause.

This follows a report by the UN Secretary-General in August 2022 which recommends the creation of such an institution to help families to find out the fate of their loved ones.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), more than 100,000 people have been arrested or abducted and have gone missing in Syria since 2011, the vast majority forcibly disappeared at the hands of the Syrian regime. The real figure is likely to be much higher. The devastating earthquake on 6 February has also contributed to the loss of evidence and testimonies that could have played an essential role in saving detainees and forcibly disappeared persons who are still alive.

Fadwa Mahmoud a former detainee, wife and mother of the forcibly disappeared Abdul Aziz Al-Khair and Maher al-Taha, co-founder of Families for Freedom movement, which is part of the Truth and Justice Charter, said:

“For 12 years Assad’s regime has used mass arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance systematically as a tool to crush dissent and instill a climate fear among Syrians. We have been waiting years to understand what’s happened to our disappeared loved ones, at the very least we deserve answers. We need to know if they are dead or alive, or where they are buried. Setting up this institution could help to bring relief to thousands of Syrians who have been living in limbo and uncertainty for years. We urge the UN Member States to act now to highlight the regime’s ruthless track record of detention and enforced disappearance. Drafting a resolution to establish this international body would be the first concrete step towards truth and justice for Syria’s disappeared.”

Mariam al-Hallak, co-founder of the Caesar Families Association, which is also part of the Truth and Justice Charter, whose son Ayham Ghazoul was forcibly disappeared and killed under torture in 2012, after protesting against the Assad regime said:
“Anyone who has lost a child will tell you it’s one of the most heart-wrenchingly painful experiences you can go through. I waited years to know what happened to Ayham. I couldn’t grieve as a mother and we couldn’t grieve as a family. Having an international body that can provide answers means families will not have the same agonizing experience that I have been forced to live through.”

A number of prominent activists and civil society groups from across Latin America and the Arab world have also voiced their support for an international body for Syria’s disappeared.These include 80 Mexican organizations who are urging the Mexican government and representatives in New York to back the mechanism.

María Adela Antokoletz from the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a leading family association that has been campaigning for decades for truth and justice for Argentina’s disappeared expressed the organization’s “resolute support” for the creation of an international institution “to promote the humanitarian and forensic investigation of disappeared Syrians.”

Ahmed Borhaneddine Otsmane, from the Algerian family group for the disappeared, SOS Disparus the Algerian section of the Collectif des familles de disparus en Algérie (CFDA) whose father was forcibly disappeared in Algeria when he was just four years old and is still fighting to obtain answers from the authorities who remain in power today said: “To Syrian families I say, we are with you. I know what you are going through, I feel for you. An international mechanism is important and should set an example. It gives us hope that we can openly address the crime of enforced disappearance, to name, shame and blame so that it is never repeated.”
The 10 families and survivors associations forming the Truth for Justice Charter are: the Association of Detained and Missing Persons in Sednaya Prison, Caesar Families Association, Coalition of Families of Persons Kidnapped by ISIS (Massar), Families for Freedom, the Ta’afi Initiative, Families for Truth and Justice, Adraa Detainees Association, Hevdestî - Synergy, Release-me, General Union of Detainees.

Syria: Turkey-Backed Fighters Kill 4 Kurdish Civilians Security chaos | Civilian stopped and robbed by local group of Military Security in Daraa

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.