Conservatives Policy on Asylum Does Not Befit Britain
January 20, 2022, 9:53 am

Conservatives Policy on Asylum Does Not Befit Britain

Jwan Dibo

When I arrived in Britain at the end of 2012, my asylum claim was processed successfully within six weeks only. Currently, asylum seekers with a similar case may wait weeks or months for their applications to be processed. This huge difference is caused by a set of laws that the Conservative government has proposed regarding asylum since July 2020. But it appears that these proposals have practically entered into force even before they were enacted.

Historically, Britain has a stellar record with regard to asylum and reception of refugees fleeing the inferno of wars. Besides, the United Kingdom was one of the first countries to sign the 1951 Refugee Convention and its Protocol in 1967. But since the Conservative Party took power in July 2019, this proud heritage has started to decline.

The Tory government has proposed a set of regulations regarding asylum, to say the least, that it is unfair and not befitting Britain's honourable record in this field. Perhaps, the strangest proposal is the possibility of transferring asylum seekers to camps outside Britain while their applications are considered.

The second point that angered human rights organisations is the demand for a law allowing to arrest refugees who arrive in Britain via the English Channel and considering them criminals. These two clauses were suggested among 40 others by the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, in the House of Commons last July as part of the so-called “Nationality and Borders Bill”.

Britain’s Home Secretary explained that the aim of these proposals is to undermine human smuggling trade. In addition to favouring refugees who arrive legally and putting obstacles in front of those who enter illegally.

But it seems that the underlying goal behind these ideas is far beyond limiting human trafficking trade or encouraging legal asylum and discouraging illegal asylum. The goal is to adopt a new harsh and strict asylum policy that suits the visions of the hawks of Tories who led Britain out of the EU.

The distinction between legal and illegal refugees is only a pretext to pass and enact the new Conservative plan on asylum and immigration in Britain. All this to reduce the number of asylum seekers and to discourage many from heading to Britain.

UNHCR commented on the new British government's plan for asylum by stating that: "The plan, if implemented as it stands, will undermine the 1951 [Refugee] Convention and international protection system, not just in the UK, but globally ... If states, like the UK, that receive a comparatively small fraction of the world’s asylum seekers and refugees appear poised to renege on their commitments, the system is weakened globally".

Regrettably, it appears that disavowing moral and humanitarian obligations towards refugees has become a global trend and phenomenon. This phenomenon emerged and grew with the rise of the Populist Right in Europe and U.S. Indeed, it is shocking that Britain has become one of the countries that has begun to shirk from its moral and humanitarian commitments towards refugees. Especially, since Britain is one of the states that historically contributed to the legalisation and globalisation of solidarity with refugees.

BY: Jwan Dibo

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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.