France repatriates 16 mothers and 35 children born in Daesh/ISIS camps in Syria
July 6, 2022, 8:55 am

France repatriates 16 mothers and 35 children born in Daesh/ISIS camps in Syria

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A statement by the French Foreign Ministry showed France on Tuesday (July 5) announced the repatriation of French mothers and their children born in the Daesh/ISIS terror group's camps in northeastern Syria. The operation is considered the first-of-its-kind.

Paris has been reluctant to bring home French nationals and their families suspected to have joined the Daesh/ISIS terrorist organization in Syria, fearing the export of radicalized individuals to the mainland.

The statement said 35 minor children, including orphans, and 16 mothers have been repatriated from Syria.

It added: “The minors have been handed over to the child welfare services and will be subject to medical monitoring. The mothers have been handed over to the competent judicial authorities.”

The ministry thanked local authorities in northeastern Syria for their cooperation to undertake the repatriation operation, the Anadolu Agency reported.

It said that this is the first time the government has repatriated French mothers and their Syria-born minors, keeping aside its “case-by-case” approach to repatriation.

Al-Hawl displacement camp in north-east Syria, which holds almost 62,000 people, the majority Iraqi and Syrian, but with an annex for international citizens accused of ties to ISIS.

An NGO petitioning for the repatriation of French nationals, the Collective of United Families, welcomed the operation while lamenting the “wasted time which necessarily contributed to adding suffering to suffering and trauma to trauma.”

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According to the organization, another 150 children and their mothers are believed to be in Camp Roj and needed to be repatriated immediately.

At least 1,300 French nationals are estimated to have traveled to Iraq and Syria since the beginning of the armed conflict in the region, according to the Anadolu Agency.

Since March 2019, 35 orphaned or medically sick children have been brought home in France from the camps controlled YPG/PKK in northeastern Syria, formerly controlled by the Daesh/ISIS.

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In February 2022, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child condemned France for failing to repatriate children of French nationals in Syria, as well as for violating the International Convention on the Rights of the Child by exposing minors to inhuman and degrading treatment and undermining their right to life.

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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.