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Syrians in Istanbul concerned over increased tight security campaigns

The Turkish city of Istanbul has recently seen security and deportation campaigns against Syrians living in the Turkish capital. The Turkish authorities have deported dozens of migrants back to Syria in spite of having legal documents issued by Istanbul State Administration . This dubious action has spread tension and horror among many Syrians; not only those without any documents or who have received papers from other states and live in Istanbul, but also those who have identity papers issued in Istanbul.
Last week, Turkish Interior Minister, Suleyman Soylu, met with a number of Syrian journalists and representatives of Syrian civil society organizations operating in Istanbul. He stated that those who hold a temporary protection paper, known as ‘kimlik’, and are not registered in Istanbul will be repatriated to the states that had issued those documents. He pointed out that the procedure would be in accordance with the local laws. He also stressed that the situation did not require deportation outside Turkey.
According to several media sources, Soylu confirmed that the Turkish foreign companies law, which states that the percentage of Turkish employees to the foreign ones should be 5 to 1 , would not be applied to the Syrians. He stressed that Turkey would not renounce the Syrians' support. However, according to him, there should be adherence to the rules and procedures In order to ensure a better long-lasting impact of such assistance.
Samar (pseudo), a Syrian resident of Istanbul, said, "I do not have a kimilk. I came to Turkey four months ago and I tried to reach the process owners to issue one, but I was rejected and dodged." She said she was concerned about herself and her family, "We can not even get out of the house, so how can we go to another state to issue the kimlik? What if we got arrested? They would take us back to Idlib and I do not want to go there."
The Levant News has spoken with several young men who were deported to Idlib. They said they had the kimlik, but they were either not carrying it with them or it was issued from other states. Yet, they were deported to Idlib after being forced to sign papers without understanding its content. This is totally contrary to what the Turkish Interior Minister had stated during his meeting with the journalists as he confirmed then that all kimlik holders that does not relate to Istanbul would be returned to the state where the paper was issued, and will not be deported to Syria.
The administration of Syrian Forum Associations declared earlier that what several media outlets had reported about the end of deportation campaign in all Turkey was far from the truth. The administration added, "the campaign is still on... Please don’t spread false news. It is not correct. All brothers and sisters must correct their legal status and move to Turkish cities which allow Syrians to issue a new kimlik.”
The administration continued, "whoever has a kimlik issued outside the city where they reside should either stay in a safe place or return to the city where the Kimlik was issued until the end of this campaign." The administration also assured that they were cooperating with the Immigration Department in Istanbul to bring back the deported young men from Syria in spite of holding the kimlik with them; either inside or outside Istanbul.
The forum published several links to forms that would help to obtain information about these deportation cases. The most recent of which was a link published earlier this week. In coordination between the Turkish Immigration Department and the Syrian Forum Association, a link has been allocated to collect information regarding those who had received temporary protection card and were deported from their dwellings in Istanbul to Syria during the recent security campaign in Istanbul.
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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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