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Sweida Representative Rejects Jumblatt's Attempts to Impose His Guardianship on the Druze Position
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Walid Jumblatt's interventions in Syrian Druze affairs reflect his insistence on playing a role that doesn't align with his political position, raising questions about his true motives

Jamal Darwish, member of the Economic Committee for the Syrian National Dialogue Conference and representative of Sweida city, confirmed that the Druze Unitarian sect in Syria and the Levant does not hold any separatist tendencies, emphasizing that its loyalty was and remains to any national government in Damascus, while rejecting any authority that contradicts these principles.
Speaking about statements made by Lebanese Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt directed at the people of Sweida, Darwish questioned the justifications for this intervention, saying: "Has Jumblatt noticed any change in Sweida's national position that needs his correction? We don't know why he insists on presenting himself as a guardian of the Druze in the Levant. He is a Lebanese political figure whom we respect, but that doesn't give him the right to interfere with the positions of the sect."
Darwish indicated that Jumblatt has been trying to play this role since 1998, when he called for a conference in Jordan that included Druze from across the Levant, calling on Palestinian Druze not to serve in the Israeli army - a position he agrees with - but the attempt did not achieve its goals. He added that Jumblatt needs to separate his political position from his sectarian affiliation.
Regarding the Druze sect's position on the secularism of the Syrian state, Darwish explained that the secularism Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hajri speaks about means separating religion from the state and maintaining a clear distance between religious authority and political authority, in a way that guarantees the rights of all citizens.
As for the Syrian National Dialogue Conference, Darwish confirmed that the conference witnessed the attendance of multiple groups, except for the Syrian component northeast of the Euphrates, and carried a high ceiling of freedoms, expressing a national project around which Syrians gather, in an attempt to chart a shared future for the country.
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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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