Music video pays ‘tribute’ to slain Iranian commander Soleimani
January 2, 2021, 10:22 am

Soleimani

A music video circulating on social media appears to pay tribute to slain Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Qassem Soleimani almost a year to the day of his death.

Soleimani, who headed Iran’s Quds Force, the overseas arms of the IRGC, was killed in a US airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport on January 3, 2020.The four-minute video, entitled “You Shine”, credits artists Hassan Tavakoli, for the lyrics and vocals.

The video, available on YouTube, features lyrics including: “Your name is Q.S., You’re a hero of humanity. You defied the limits of intelligence, Sending shivers down the spine of Global Arrogance. You decried oppression in every form.”

The lyrics also say: “Ever since you left, I must confess, the world has become a total mess. You were the bridge that connected hearts. Always there for us when we were in distress. Everywhere I look I see your trace. You tried to make the world a better place. Oppressors will never forget your frown. The oppressed will not forget the smile on your face.”

In a clip, Tavakoli sings: “Though you were martyred mercilessly, an army of you is growing globally. Because people are tired of all this prejudice. They want to fight like you against injustice.”

The video has received a backlash on social media, where it has been viewed tens of thousands of times.

So there's an English song that I think it's been released today in honour of #Soleimani. Below is a little glimpse into the music video.

Follow this link to watch the whole thing: https://t.co/I9dgSazxXw #Iran pic.twitter.com/2E4EzPuuTV

— Kian Sharifi (@KianSharifi) January 1, 2021

On Twitter, one user writing: “Soleimani was a terrorist and justice came upon him.”

Soleimani’s legacy will include his kill record from the Middle East to South America.

In Lebanon, Soleimani was suspected of being involved in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, according to a 2013 article in the New Yorker, which reported that the senior investigator for the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon suspected Iranian involvement in the murder.

“If Iran was involved, Soleimani was undoubtedly at the center of this,” the article reported former senior CIA official Robert Bauer as saying.

In Syria, Soleimani “continued support to the murderous regime…aiding and abetting Assad’s brutal abuses against the Syrian people,” according to US Vice President Mike Pence, last January, following the death of the Iranian military chief.

Soleimani supported the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s fight against opposition forces, dispatching thousands of Quds Force members to Syria to help and train the Syrian Armed Forces and al-Assad’s militias.

The US Treasury Department had sanctioned Soleimani in relation to “human rights abuses in Syria, for his role as the Commander of the IRGC-QF, the primary conduit for Iran’s support to the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate (GID),” according to a May 2011 statement.

It is also alleged that Soleimani’s Quds Force carried out the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy and the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center both in Bueno Aires, Argentina, which combined to kill over 100 people.

The Iranian military chief was also behind the attempted assassination of Saudi Arabian ambassador to the US Adel al-Jubeir in 2011 and oversaw “a terrorist attack attempt on American soil,” according to Pence.

And Soleimani’s plans to kill were far from over. Soleimani was plotting attacks on American diplomats and military personnel before he was killed, according to Pence.

There is increased concern about what Iran or its militias might do ahead of the first anniversary of Soleimani’s death.

source: Jennifer Bell

Image source: AFP

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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.