Turkey Refuses to Hand Over Afrin to Syrian Caretaker Government
Turkey's Control of Local Councils in Afrin Reflects Attempts to Entrench Its Occupation Under Administrative Supervision Guise
January 8, 2025, 11:00 pm

Turkey Refuses to Hand Over Afrin to Syrian Caretaker Government

عفرين

An informed source in the Afrin Local Council told North Press Agency that the Turkish official in charge of city administration refused to transfer local council authorities to representatives of the Syrian interim caretaker government.

The source reviewed details of a delegation from the new Aleppo Governorate Council arriving in Afrin to supervise local council activities, facing a categorical rejection from the Turkish-appointed official.

The Turkish official claimed the need to discuss administrative transfer with the new Syrian authorities at a later time, confirming Afrin's continued direct Turkish control in the current phase.

The source reported the Syrian delegation immediately leaving Afrin after concluding the meeting with the Turkish official, a step reflecting deep disagreement over regional administration.

Analysts view Turkey's insistence on maintaining direct control over Afrin as contradicting principles of Syrian sovereignty and the approach towards administrative integration of occupied territories.

These developments confirm Turkey's continued policy of imposing control over occupied Syrian areas, disregarding political changes in Damascus and transitional phase requirements.

Levant-Agencies

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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.”