Release of Jordanian Journalist Ameir Gharaibeh After Five-Year Detention in Syria
November 19, 2024, 10:02 am

Release of Jordanian Journalist Ameir Gharaibeh After Five-Year Detention in Syria

الصحفي الأردني عمير الغرايبة

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today the release of Jordanian journalist Ameir Gharaibeh, who had been held in Syria since 2019, and his return to Jordan has been secured.

The ministry's spokesperson, Ambassador Sufyan al-Qudah, explained that the release of Gharaibeh occurred thanks to a special presidential pardon issued by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Gharaibeh was transported in an official vehicle from the Jordanian embassy in Damascus to the Jordanian border, where he was handed over to his family.

Al-Qudah confirmed that the ministry closely monitored Gharaibeh's detention case through the Jordanian embassy in Damascus and maintained continuous communication with the Syrian side to ensure his release. The ambassador also expressed his appreciation to the Syrian leadership for the presidential pardon decision, thanking the Syrian authorities for facilitating this process.

### Details of Gharaibeh's Detention

The events surrounding Gharaibeh's detention date back to February 7, 2019, when he set out with two friends on a trip from Jordan to Damascus, where he documented moments from the city through his lens.

On February 10 of the same year, while returning to Jordan on a bus, they were stopped at a checkpoint in the village of Manket Hatab in the rural Damascus area, which is controlled by the Syrian Air Intelligence. After inspecting his camera and reviewing the stored images, the forces arrested Gharaibeh and transferred him to an unknown location.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.