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Dutch Parliament Moves to Reinstate Sanctions on Syria

Some political parties and lawmakers in European Union countries are seeking to reevaluate their stance towards the new rulers in Syria, amid the Syrian authorities' failure to uphold promises related to the protection of minorities and the enhancement of participation from all components of Syrian society in managing the country's affairs.
In this context, the Dutch Parliament voted in favor of a memorandum urging the government to pressure within the European Union to reinstate sanctions that were recently lifted on Syria, in the event that the situation regarding minority rights continues to deteriorate under the de facto authority.
This memorandum was based, according to statements from academic and researcher Karam Shaar from the Newlines Institute and research director at the Policy and Operations Research Center, on recent events of violence in the Syrian coast and the constitutional declaration that excluded certain segments of the population.
The Dutch Parliament's memorandum received broad support from a multi-party coalition, warning that lifting sanctions on Syria should not be used as a pretext for increasing repression against minorities. The Dutch government did not object to this, facilitating the passage of the memorandum with significant backing.
In this context, Karam Shaar questioned the acceptability of reinstating sanctions that had previously been imposed due to crimes committed by the ousted Assad regime, indicating that any lifting of sanctions should occur unconditionally upon the regime's downfall. He emphasized the importance of monitoring the behavior of the new government in Damascus, stressing that the sanctions imposed during Assad's tenure are not the optimal political tool.
Since 2011, the European Union has imposed a series of sanctions on Syria in response to the former regime's oppressive policies against peaceful popular protests. These sanctions include an arms embargo, a ban on importing Syrian oil and petroleum products, as well as financial restrictions, freezing the assets of the Syrian central bank, and preventing European financial institutions from opening branches in the region, along with other restrictions on exporting equipment and technology that could be used for internal repression.
After the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, the European Union announced its intention to ease sanctions for the benefit of the Syrian people. Indeed, on February 24, 2025, it announced the suspension of sanctions affecting the energy, banking, and transport sectors, paving the way for potential future changes in policy towards Syria.
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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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