Calls in the British House of Commons to ban the Muslim Brotherhood
February 11, 2020, 10:50 am

Calls in the British House of Commons to ban the Muslim Brotherhood

Members of the British House of Commons demanded this week that the Muslim Brotherhood should be banned, as it poses a clear threat to UK security.

In this context, Irish Democratic Unionist Party member Ian Paisley said during a parliament session on Thursday that the threat posed by the Brotherhood should be addressed, stating: “The government must go ahead with the campaign to ban the Brotherhood, who spread hate and attack Christians. Inside and outside the country.”

Paisley added: “The Saudi foreign minister was here last week, and he told the lawmakers that his country banned this group because it transformed their beliefs into an instrument of inciting hatred.” He continued: “The Saudi minister expressed his surprise that the UK had not yet taken similar measures to ban the Brotherhood.”

Representative Julian Lewis noted that this “confirms and again raises my doubts that the special report on the Brotherhood’s activities in our country, commissioned by David Cameron when he was prime minister, has not yet been announced. Why?".

Paisley replied, "Thank you for raising this point. This is an organization that exploits and violates beliefs to attack Christians and others. This is frightening and wrong." He continued: "It is necessary to reveal and expose the full facts about the Brotherhood in our country."

Meanwhile, Representative Bob Stuart participated in the debate, saying, “When I visited Egypt in 2011, I met members of the Brotherhood at their headquarters, and they told me at the time that they did not have political intentions and did not want to rule the country, but now they are considered a direct cause of what Christians are exposed to (the attacks) ... I completely agree with what you said about the Brotherhood."

Representative Paisley noted: “Indeed, the model promoted by the Brotherhood last year encouraged incitement to hatred against Christians, and against Muslims who joined the British army, and identified them as people to be targeted and killed.”

The Muslim Brotherhood faces a comprehensive ban on its activities in a number of Arab countries after it has been classified as a "terrorist group" in it.

For Sama, Not For Syria Waiting for a witness who will not show up

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.