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New Suffering Awaits Them.. Financial Extortion Confronts Homeowners Returning to Afrin
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Refusal to Evacuate Homes from Legitimate Owners Reflects Continued Demographic Change Policy Practiced by Turkish Militias in the Region for Years

Local sources in Afrin revealed that original residents returning to their homes face financial extortion from displaced occupants who refuse to evacuate without monetary payment.
Information indicates Turkish-affiliated militias had previously seized these homes and transferred them to displaced persons during the displacement period, with current occupants either returning the properties to militias or imposing financial levies on original owners.
Returning residents' frustration escalated due to demands for compensation for alleged expenses, despite most renovation and preparation work being conducted through relief organizations.
These practices highlight the continued extortion policy practiced by armed militias in Afrin, with residents demanding an end to such violations and guaranteeing property restoration without restrictions.
Returnees face increasing difficulties recovering their rights amid the absence of legal authority protecting private property and preventing ongoing violations.
This financial extortion coincides with growing returns of original residents to their city, placing them in direct confrontation with those benefiting from prevailing regional chaos.
These practices raise concerns about continued suffering of Afrin's original inhabitants, especially with armed militias' complicity in extortion and property seizure operations.
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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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