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Dr Wissam Basindawa briefs the European Parliament Presidency on the humanitarian situation in Yemen

Dr. Wissam Basindouh, President of the Yemeni Coalition for Independent Women, had a brief exchange followed by a photo session with the president if the European Parliament Mrs Roberta Metsola who was hosted in her office in the Parliament, and a meeting with the First Vice-President of the European Parliament Othmar Karas at the European Parliament headquarters in the city of Strasbourg.
During the brief exchange with her excellency Mrs Roberta Metsola , Dr wesam Basindawa was accompanied by Mep Fulvio Martusciello, a member of the LiBE committee and the committee of the EU Relations with the Arab Peninsula, Dr. Manel Msalmi Advisor to the European Parliament for Middle East Affairs, and Valerio Balzamo , Senior Assistant to the EPP Group.Dr. Wissam Bassindawa explained the situation of human rights Human rights in Yemen and the violations committed by the Houthi militia against women and children, in addition to a detailed explanation of the cities besieged by the Houthi militia, as happens in Taiz, which is the largest city in terms of population density, and people suffer difficult conditions despite the opening of Sanaa airport.
In addition, the President of the European Union expressed her regret for these crimes, declaring her solidarity with the women and children in Yemen and the tragic conditions they suffer from.
At the end of the brief exchange, the President of the European Parliament thanked Dr wesam Basindawa for her efforts in defending human rights in Yemen, especially women and children and Mep Martusciello as well as his team for standing for human rights and gender equality in the region.
Dr. Wissam Basindawa has also the privilege to meet the First Vice-President of the European Parliament Othmar Karas together with Meo Fulvio Martusciello and Dr Manel Msalmi.
During the meeting, Dr. Wissam Basindowah focused on explaining the conditions of religious freedom in Yemen and the tragic conditions of minorities and the violence they are subjected to such as Jews and Bahais, recalling the case of the rabbi who is still detained by the Houthis and faces a death sentence.
Dr. Wissam referred to the educational curricula that were subjected to sectarian bullying until they became a form of brainwashing children and atonement for the other.
For her part, Dr Manel Msalmi stressed the need to stop funding the Houthi terrorist militia so that they stop using these funding to indoctrinate children and increase violence.
It also indicated that the Houthi militia banned a number of Sunni imams in the past Ramadan to prevent them from performing Tarawih prayers, which are one of the rituals of the Sunni sect in Ramadan.
It is worth mentioning that these meetings come at the end of a series of meetings and discussions with a group of European parliamentarians within the European Parliament's meetings in Strasbourg.
It is worth noting that a number of European parliamentarians, in turn, signed a statement addressed to Joseph Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, to demand pressure on the Houthis to stop their violations against civilians , and thanks to these initiatives and meetings mainly by Mep Martusciello, the Houthis were placed on the blacklist as a terrorist group by the European Union in March 2022.
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
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.
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