Iran's Hostile Messages to Kurdistan Region
October 20, 2020, 9:59 am

Iran's Hostile Messages to Kurdistan Region

Jwan Dibo

Unlike Turkey that fights Kurds directly and by itself, inside and outside, Iran fights Kurds outside its territory, indirectly and via its followers. On 17 October, supporters of Iran-backed, Hashd al-Shaabi, an Iraqi Shi’ite militias group, set fire to the offices of the fifth headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Baghdad. These groups were the same pro-Iranian militias that invaded and occupied the city of Kirkuk in October 2017 at the behest of Iran, following the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The declared reason behind the attack of the pro-Iranian Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) against KDP’s offices was a statement said by a senior KDP official.

Former Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said earlier this month that “the government should clean up the Green Zone in Baghdad of the presence of the PMF militia”.

He explained that expelling them is an essential task because they operate outside the law. He also accused those militias of being the ones that targeted Erbil International Airport with missiles at the end of last month.

However, the underlying cause of this barbaric attack is divided into two parts: direct and indirect

. The immediate factor lies about Iran's discontent with the recent agreement between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) earlier this month regarding Sinjar.

The agreement stipulated an end to the armed presence of PKK and PMF in Sinjar and the assumption of security duties there by Baghdad and Erbil together.

Especially, since the agreement followed a visit by Iraqi Prime Minister to Washington in late August. The visit during which the U.S. President urged Iraqi Prime Minister to expedite the settlement of Sinjar issue in a manner that satisfies both Baghdad and Erbil.

For Iran, the importance of Sinjar stems from its geopolitical position and what it constitutes in the context of the Shiite Crescent project that links Iran to Lebanon through Iraq and Syria.

Since the location of Kurdistan region and its moderate policies constitute an impenetrable barrier in the face of the Iranian plan, therefore, Iran will not hesitate to harm Kurdistan region by various means. What exacerbates the Iranian regime’s anger against KRG is that the latter coordinates with Washington and Baghdad for the rule of law and ending the control of the Iranian-backed Shiite militias.

Iranian hostility against Kurdistan region, especially KDP in Erbil, has intensified since the independence referendum in September 2017. This was evident when Iran instructed PMF to foray and conquer the city of Kirkuk in October in the wake of the Kurdish independence

referendum. Also, through the periodic bombing of the sites of Kurdistan Democratic Party - Iran in Iraqi Kurdistan. The systematic Iranian hostility includes the Syrian Kurds and the U.Sbacked Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which constitute Syria's local force in the face of the Iranian plot.

Iran's goal behind the burning of the offices of KDP in Baghdad by its affiliated militias is to deliver a message to Washington, Erbil, and Baghdad together.

The message was a preemptive offensive move by Iran and its Iraqi allies to undermine the recent agreement reached between Baghdad and Erbil regarding Sinjar. Similarly, to disturbing the relations between Baghdad and Erbil and to delay reaching a solution to the disputed territories issue,

based on Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution.

Day after day it becomes clear that Iran was and still is the main obstacle to the stability and prosperity of Iraq and the entire Middle East. Here, Iranian agendas intersect with Turkish efforts in opposing the legitimate aspirations of Kurdistan region for independence.

The burning of the offices of KDP by the armed gangs affiliated with Iran, undeniably demonstrates the validity of the independence choice adopted by the people and leadership of Kurdistan.

by : Jwan Dibo

Crowning glory Human Rights and Egypt’s Global Affairs

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.