Iran: protesters across the country target the supreme leader in outrage over plane shoot-down
January 14, 2020, 9:29 am

protesters across the country target the supreme leader in outrage over plane shoot-down

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Targeting a Ukrainian passenger jet with a missile fired by IRGS Air Force anti-aircraft weapon that killed 176 passengers was a crime against humanity. This unprecedented development wounded all human hearts. Following this heartbreaking incident, thousands of Iranians held a protest rally across the country last night and today, people were chanting slogans like " death to the dictator” and ‘Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, resign, resign,’. The protesters openly blamed and challenged the IRGC, the regime’s power base for decades.

In Tehran, protesters tore down a poster of Qasem Soleimani, the regime's chief terrorist killed in an airstrike last week. The regime had tried to frame Soleimani as a national symbol and hero.

In Tehran- Azadi Square yesterday evening, Thousands chant, “Guns, tanks, mullahs should get lost”. "Khamenei-IRGC dictator – You are Daesh (ISIS) to us.

"Our disgrace, our disgrace, our state Radio &TV", "Basiji is the killer of our nation"-"We did not have a casualty to praise the killer leader

In Mashhad, a large crowd gathered in Parke Mellat and shouted anti-regime slogans. The protesters were chanting, "The mullahs must get lost" and "They killed our geniuses and gave us mullahs instead." The protesters also chanted, "Death to the dictator," calling for regime change

In Tabriz, protesters who had gathered in front of the Medical Sciences University were chanting, "So many years of crime, death to the mullahs' regime!"

Meanwhile, in Shiraz, protesters marched into the night, chanting "Death to the dictator!" and calling for Khamenei, the commander in chief, to resign.

Protest by thousands of Iranians in Tehran & other cities for two days undercut regime’s propaganda on termination of Soleimani.

Students at Iranian universities held a protest rally in solidarity with the victims of the incident and directed their slogans at Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards chanted slogans such as; Khamenei is a killer-his government is void, Fear not, we are all together! Basiji be afraid we are all together.

Students at Sharif University in Tehran shouted boldly in their ranks Death to the lying leader (Khamenei)!

This marks vividly indicated a new phase of more defiance in Iran as the regime has become much weaker. In chanting against the monarchy and the current religious fascism, the protesters showed that they reject despotism in any shape and form and democracy is the only way forward.

Students of Amir Kabir University in Tehran chanted our shame our stupid leader.

Regime authorities dispatching a large number of security units in fear of massive protests. Security forces fired tear gas, rubber bullets and eventually live ammunition to disperse demonstrators in Tehran. By late Sunday night, several people had been wounded in Tehran.

The regime has slowed down and cut off internet access as soon as news and clips were posted on social networks.

In the aftermath of the November anti-regime protests in 191 cities throughout Iran in which the regime killed more than 1,500 protesters, wounded 4,000 and arrested 12,000, the tide has turned against the regime.

The protest rally across the country has gained international support, Secretary Pompeo tweeted: The voice of the Iranian people is clear. They are fed up with the regime’s lies, corruption, ineptitude, and brutality of the IRGC under kleptocracy. We stand with the Iranian people who deserve a better future.

President Donald Trump tweeted: “America stands with the people of Iran in their courageous struggle for freedom.”

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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.