A protest in Damascus demanding the revelation of the fate of detainees and the forcibly disappeared
December 27, 2024, 1:07 pm

A protest in Damascus demanding the revelation of the fate of detainees and the forcibly disappeared

وقفة احتجاجية في دمشق

The families of the missing and detained individuals in Syrian government prisons organized a protest in front of the Hejaz Station in Damascus, where a number of artists, activists, human rights advocates, and Syrian journalists gathered, including artist Maher Suleibi and artist Yara Sabri.

This protest comes amid the security chaos that the country is experiencing, expressing the anger and grief felt by families who have endured years of anxiety and uncertainty regarding the fate of their loved ones, who have been imprisoned for more than 13 years.

Participants in the protest emphasized the importance of shedding light on the issues of detainees and the forcibly disappeared, warning against the continuous neglect of this humanitarian tragedy. They called for urgent action from the international community to provide information about the fate of the detainees, as well as to hold Bashar al-Assad, the main culprit, accountable.

The protesters raised banners with slogans demanding disclosure and justice, expressing hope that the Syrian government would heed their demands and open serious investigations to reveal the fate of those who have been disappeared from their families.

International reports indicate that thousands of detainees have been systematically and secretly killed inside prisons, with the collapsed regime executing mass executions without trials between 2011 and 2015, at a rate of up to 50 people per week.

In a previous report, the Syrian Network for Human Rights stated that there are at least 131,469 people who have been either detained or forcibly disappeared by the Syrian regime since March 2011, according to their database.

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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.”