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Latakia: Popular Rejection of Militarizing Cafes and Imposing Religious Sermons on Patrons
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Imposing Religious Sermons in Cafes Reflects the Approach of Using Military Force to Impose Hardline Religious Vision on Society

A military operations management element delivering religious sermons in Latakia cafes sparked a wave of popular discontent and rejection, expressing concerns about attempts to impose hardline religious orientations through armed force.
Social media activists expressed rejection of these practices. Ali Salman emphasized that the problem lies in "linking religion with militarization", indicating it "creates fear among some people".
Citizens criticized transforming cafes and restaurants into religious sermon platforms, with one sarcastically asking: "If restaurants become Friday sermon venues, where will people go to eat? In the mosque?"
Commentators pointed to the existence of sufficient mosques and religious centers in the city, warning that these practices "instead of attracting people will drive them away, with everyone just pretending to comply out of fear".
Observers view these practices as reflecting the hardline approach of military operations management, attempting to impose their ideological vision on Syrian society.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
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.”
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