Syrian doctor goes on trial in Germany accused of crimes against humanity
January 19, 2022, 4:22 pm

Syrian doctor goes on trial in Germany accused of crimes against humanity

Syrian fighters

The Euronews reported with the Associated Press, Syrian doctor has gone on trial in Germany accused of crimes against humanity during the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Prosecutors say the suspect -- identified only as Alaa M. -- tortured and killed inmates at a government-run prison and two military hospitals.

Alaa M. allegedly worked at a military intelligence prison in the Syrian city of Homs from April 2011 until late 2012, prosecutors said.

He is accused of killing one person and 18 counts of torture, as well as causing serious physical and psychological harm to others.

The regional court in Frankfurt heard that he has used his power as a doctor to "suppress the uprising of a part of the Syrian population."

Germany-Brand front of the Brandenburg gate Berlin/Pixabay

The suspect arrived in Germany in 2015 and was allowed to practice medicine under his Syrian medical credentials. The 36-year-old reportedly worked at a health centre near Kassel, where he was recognised by multiple Syrian nationals reported to German police.

Alaa M. -- who has been in pretrial detention since his arrest in June 2020, has denied the allegations.

German court to start trial of another Syrian figure accused of war crimes

This latest case follows last week’s landmark conviction of a former Syrian intelligence officer for crimes against humanity.

Anwar Raslan was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of dozens of people and the torture of thousands in a detention centre near Damascus.

The verdict was the first to examine crimes attributed to the Syrian regime and documented countless times by Syrian activists and NGOs. A junior intelligence officer was earlier convicted in the same case in 2021.

German court sentences Syrian colonel Anwar Raslan to life imprisonment

Like other European countries, Germany has applied universal jurisdiction laws to prosecute serious crimes even if they occurred abroad.

Human Rights Watch has urged the Frankfurt court to make Arabic translation available so that the public can understand the complicated legal proceedings.

Balkees Jarrah, the group’s interim international justice director, noted that Syrian survivors and activists had been central to the effort to bringing those responsible for abuses in Syria to justice.

Syrians in diaspora and in refugee camps send a letter to Mr. Antonio Guterres

She said: “To be meaningful, justice should not only be done, but be seen to be done."

“Court authorities should make Arabic translation more widely available for these cases involving the world’s worst crimes committed abroad.”

Source: euronews

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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.