Forty Years after the Stolen Revolution
February 17, 2020, 4:00 am

Mohammed Khalil

The Iranian revolution against the Shah’s rule was not a pure religious one. The basis of the revolution was the economic hardship that people suffered at the time. The forces that contributed to the revolution were not confined to the clergy only, there were other forces, liberal, nationalist, and leftist, and these forces had a major and effective role in the revolution, but what happened after the Shah’s regime fell is that the religious current led by Khomeini stole the revolution and turned against the forces that participated in it, and instead of building a modern country, the Shiite clerics established the Republic of Wilayat al-Faqih.

Forty years later, the Iranians are back on the streets, demanding an improvement in their economic conditions. In a country that is assumed to be a rich one, at least 15% of its population lives below the poverty line of $ 8 a day, the unemployment rate reaches about 13% according to official government statistics, prices rise every day, the purchasing power decreases, and making people’s living conditions more difficult.

The Iranian regime put its people in this difficult economic situation as a result of its policies at the local and international levels. This regime devoted state resources to achieving its dreams of controlling its neighbors and creating a sectarian empire. The result was that Iran has become an enemy of many countries in the region and the world, and has been subjected to economic sanctions.

The regime spent the wealth and resources of the Iranian people to arm militias loyal to it in a number of countries, and to build a military arsenal, and it forgot to invest in people's lives and their future. Moreover, this regime faced the demands of people with iron fist and authoritarian rule, and pushed people onto the streets again.

Forty years ago, the Shah’s regime fell despite having many friends internationally, and these friendships did not help him in the face of the people's anger. The current regime in Iran does not have friends, and the anger of the people is increasing every day, and the result of this equation is known, this regime has no choice but to submit to the demands of the people or to leave.

The mullahs stole the revolution, stole the dreams of the Iranians of a bright future, and practiced all kinds of repression and oppression against the Iranian people. On the fortieth anniversary of the kidnapping of the revolution, the Iranians are chanting in the streets, cities and villages against this regime, and as we all know, “power to the people”.

By: Mohammed Khalil

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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.”