A Reading of the Constitutional Declaration of Syria 2025
March 23, 2025, 12:30 pm

A Reading of the Constitutional Declaration of Syria 2025

Reber Habun

After the fall of the regime on December 8, 2024, the al-Julani forces came to replace it, declaring the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's rule. He subsequently declared himself the transitional president for a period of three months, and as March approached, having completed the three months, he announced a constitutional text for the new Syria that extends the presidential term to five years.

This means that he replaced Bashar al-Assad without elections and without consensus from other factions, discarding the popular referendum and national consensus. Thus, he legitimized his presence through formal procedures covered by Turkish intelligence and individual decisions that counter the popular will and the institutions that should be managed democratically. However, the jihadist Islamist mentality understands only how to seize power and monopolize it, and it can be said that al-Julani and the group of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have seized Damascus and declared themselves the new Syrian government, reminiscent of the coup by Hafez al-Assad and the series of coups that preceded it.

Today, al-Julani uses a jihadist rhetoric that often reminds us of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s sermons from the pulpits of Mosul and Raqqa. We observe a surge of foreign Islamic groups coming from Turkestan, Chechnya, the Uyghurs, and their nearby regions, as if they declared themselves a fortress and a protective wall around al-Julani and his government, as if they had come for pilgrimage. The visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister, the intelligence chief, and the Turkish Minister of Economy to bless al-Julani as the president for another transitional period is evidence of the substantial coordination between Turkey and this government, confirming that it operates according to Turkish interests with extreme precision. Undoubtedly, this single-colored, jihadist government relies on the logic of empowerment as the foundation of its existence and dominance, according to its literature, indicating the continuation of exclusion and repression. What will be the stance of the international community towards it? History seems to be repeating itself in a worse form, leading us to the conclusion that stability or a political solution, given these conditions, is far-fetched. This, in turn, opens the door to a new cycle of violence and struggle for power.

What I initially expect is that the West and the United States will not recognize this government and its jihadist rhetoric, and they will reconsider lifting sanctions. We may witness economic sanctions and political pressures to contain this terrorist entity, especially since Israel, from the summit of Mount Hermon, is monitoring what is happening and threatening intervention if necessary, as it cannot feel safe from a government hostile to it and close to its borders, akin to the Taliban currently governing Afghanistan.

Regarding Iran and Russia, they will see this as a direct threat to them, as Iran is expected to mobilize its sectarian factions in the name of protecting the Alawites from systematic massacres, making its way from the Syrian al-Bukamal to the coast to confront al-Julani’s terrorist groups. Furthermore, civilians from the coastal areas who have sought refuge at the Russian Hmeimim base for protection have put Russia in a position where it must take action that weakens the new government. Arab states such as Egypt and the UAE will not accept what is happening in Syria and will act according to their interests. As for the United Nations, it will issue, as usual, a statement condemning what is happening, and it will not be able to take further action without the consensus of the major powers involved in the Syrian issue.

This situation leads us to a point that stability is far from achievable in light of an exclusionary, extremist project. Turkey wishes to use these groups as leverage against the West and Russia if the West continues to use the Kurdish card and maintains its drawing of a Middle East map that threatens Turkey as an extremist national state.

However, relying on Israeli military intervention is unrealistic, as it will intervene in a limited manner through airstrikes on ideologically linked sites to Hamas, as it did by striking the headquarters of a leader of the Islamic Jihad Movement. Iran will move Iraqi Shiite militias to cross into Syria towards coastal areas, while Turkey will continue its usual game of contradictions, using al-Julani as a leverage tool, keeping him under its surveillance in such a way as not to allow him to gain strength, and it will revert to its tactics of blackmailing the West and the United States, trading the issue of al-Julani for its demands regarding stopping support for the Syrian Democratic Forces and ending the autonomous administration in northeastern Syria. The administration will seek to establish channels of communication with Egypt and the UAE to gain either financial or media support, all indicating that Syria is heading towards the unknown.

The upcoming phase is marked by the return of sectarian jihadist militia conflicts to Syria, with Turkey as the main player in the region.

Reber Haboan

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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.