Sweida: Survivors of Arrests Expose Gross Violations
April 7, 2025, 2:10 pm

Sweida: Survivors of Arrests Expose Gross Violations

السويداء: ناجون من الاعتقالات يكشفون عن انتهاكات صارخة

A delegation of activists who suffered arbitrary detention at a "General Security" checkpoint in Homs Governorate met with Sweida Governor Mustafa al-Bakur today, Monday, at the governorate’s headquarters, where feelings of discontent regarding practices reminiscent of the mentality of the previous regime's security apparatus prevailed.

During the meeting, attended by several civil society representatives and local media, the released detainees displayed the bruises on their bodies and recounted details of their hours of detention at the checkpoint before being transferred to Harim Prison in rural Idlib, where they faced humiliating treatment and sectarian abuses from General Security personnel.

The delegation members revealed that they were subjected to death threats and targeted killings, emphasizing the widespread violations within Harim Prison. They stressed their determination to uphold their rights, clarifying that they would resort to all legal means to hold accountable those who assaulted them. Civil society representatives present condemned these practices, affirming that such an approach only serves to exacerbate social tensions, and emphasized that holding violators accountable is a priority that cannot be compromised.

For his part, Governor al-Bakur denounced the violations committed by the General Security agency, stressing that he "will not return to the governorate" unless accountability for those involved in these condemned violations is ensured.

Sweida 24 documented in the past two days an arrest incident involving 21 men and women, mostly from Sweida, at a checkpoint in rural Homs while they were heading to Raqqa, revealing that the detainees had been subjected to torture and violations.

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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.”