Mother of Journalist Austin Tice Affirms Syrian Authorities' Commitment to His Return
January 20, 2025, 12:37 pm

Mother of Journalist Austin Tice Affirms Syrian Authorities' Commitment to His Return

أكدت ديبرا تايس

Debra Tice, the mother of American journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped near Damascus in 2012, confirmed that the Syrian authorities are "determined" to return him, during statements she made on Monday after meeting with the head of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shara, in Damascus.

In a press conference held in the Syrian capital, Tice stated, "During my time in Damascus, I had the honor of meeting the new Syrian leadership... It was wonderful to realize that they are committed and their will is strong to bring my son, and your son, back home."

She expressed during the conference, which was also attended by the president of the "Hostage Aid Worldwide" organization, Nizar Zaka, her hope that "the administration of the new U.S. president, Donald Trump, will be very committed to working on bringing Austin back home."

She added, "His team has already reached out to me... I am very excited to support and engage with them, and I feel they will be swift in this matter."

Zaka met with Debra Tice on Sunday, and the Syrian state news agency "SANA" reported on this meeting.

In this context, the American non-governmental organization "Hostage Aid Worldwide" expressed confidence in December that Tice is still alive, although it has not disclosed concrete information about his whereabouts.

Zaka clarified during a press conference held in Damascus that a photograph was presented indicating the locations where Tice is believed to have been held between November 2017 and February 2024.

Speaking to AFP earlier in January, Zaka confirmed, "We have many leads... and people are reaching out," through a text messaging campaign launched by the organization requesting Syrians across the country to provide any information about Tice.

He added, "We have been checking the walls of the cells one by one," even those that have been painted over or burned, noting that they had visited sites in Damascus and Latakia, and were "monitoring some safe houses in various areas of Syria," in search of Tice.

The organization states that it is working in cooperation with the Tice family and U.S. authorities.

Tice is now 43 years old and worked for Agence France-Presse, McClatchy News, The Washington Post, CBS News, and other media outlets before he was detained at a checkpoint in August 2012.

Under the previous president Bashar al-Assad, the authorities never announced his detention.

It is worth mentioning that after the fall of the Assad regime on December 8 at the hands of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied factions, many prisoners were released, but many Syrians are still searching for answers regarding the fate of their loved ones.

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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.