Meanings of Nowruz between mythology and reality
March 22, 2022, 2:37 pm

Meanings of Nowruz between mythology and reality

Zara saleh

Nowruz, known as a new year for more than 300 million people across the world, has been celebrated for nearly 3,000 years [ 2722 years according to the Kurdish calendar or 612 B.C.]. The festival of Nowruz is the traditional celebration of the new year that marks the beginning of spring for a diverse range of nations, ethnic and religious communities. However, Nowruz or the new day in Kurdish has been associated with the Kurdish national identity and freedom and has become a symbol of Kurdish national identity and symbolises the end of tyranny.

Arguably, Newroz has become the most important national, cultural festival and celebration of the Kurdish calendar in Kurdistan and diaspora as well which began on the twentieth and twenty-first of March. By going back to the Kurdish myths, Nowruz has not only marked the first of spring, but it was an embodiment of revolution against oppression and the end of tyranny. According to the legend and the Zoroastrian myth, the Kurds with the other ethnic groups that been oppressed by the Assyrian tyranny of Zuhak (Dehak) began to rebel against him with the leadership of the blacksmith Kawa. When the king became ill, two serpents grew on his shoulders and started to feed them by the brain of two Kurdish youths each day in purpose to prevent eating him until Kawa led a revolution against him. Simultaneously with the killing and defeating of king Zuhak, the fire in the hills and mountains announced the victory and the end of the Zuhak kingdom. 612 B.C. was the end of the Assyrian kingdom and the beginning rule of the Kurdish kingdom of Medes.

For Kurdish people, Nowruz is a symbol of freedom, revolution and identity and has always connected to the politics of the day in all parts of Kurdistan under the oppressive regimes of Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. For example, in Syria and under Assad's regime, the celebration of the Kurdish new year was forbidden, and the Kurds were subject of arrest, killing and oppression by the Syrian security forces. In 1986 the Syrian intelligences and mukhabarat had opened fire against the Kurdish demonstration in Damascus to prevent people from celebrating Nowruz outdoors and banning the celebration. As a result, the first victim of the Syrian regime was Suleiman Addy who was killed by the Syrian police. Due to the political oppression of Kurds by Assad's regime and its discrimination policies, the Kurds led an uprising against the regime in March 2004 and they continued the struggles until today's day.

In 2019, just after two days of Nowruz, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces declared the defeat of the so-called ISIS in 23 of March, northeast Syria. Remembering the first Kurdish victory before 2722 years, were Kurds joint together under the rule of the Medes Kingdom and has successfully defeated the tyranny. Today, such example and experience of unity can be the only way for Kurds as the world's largest ethnic group without state and they an estimated 50 million who live in between Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

BY: Zara Saleh

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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.