German Minister Visits Damascus to Discuss Refugee Return Amid Heightened Security
April 27, 2025, 3:59 pm

German Minister Visits Damascus to Discuss Refugee Return Amid Heightened Security

نانسي فيزر

After a month of canceling her scheduled visit to Damascus for security reasons, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser made a trip to the Syrian capital. Accompanying the minister, who is a member of the Social Democratic Party, is her Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner. The visit is part of discussions on the possibility of the voluntary return of Syrian refugees and issues related to deportations to Syria.

Faeser noted that "many Syrian refugees have been able to find jobs in Germany, learned the German language, and built new lives," emphasizing the need to allow these individuals to stay. Conversely, the minister expressed the urgent need to deport other refugees, primarily "criminal offenders and Islamists."

The previously unannounced visit took place under strict security measures, with the German-Austrian delegation traveling from Cyprus to Damascus. The previous visit of the delegation was canceled due to potential "terrorist" threats targeting Western delegations in the capital.

Upon arrival in Damascus, the delegation was received by Syrian Interior Minister Anas al-Khattab, who has held his position since March 29. During the meeting, the German minister indicated that the fall of the Assad regime represents "an opportunity for a transition to democracy in Syria."

It is noteworthy that the interim Syrian president, Ahmad al-Shara', appointed members of the second transitional government at the end of March following Assad's ousting, adding new context to the movements of Western countries regarding Syria.

Parents of Students Protest in Front of UNICEF Headquarters in Qamishli Demanding the Right to Education The Autonomous Administration in Northern and Eastern Syria Welcomes the Signing of the Kurdish Unity Document

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”