Turkey tightens control on refugees, halts new applications
September 14, 2021, 1:30 am

Turkey tightens control on refugees, halts new applications

Turkey-Building- Flag

The Xinhua reported, The Turkish government has decided to put new plans in motion which will tighten control on millions of refugees in the country, a move aiming to address rising negative feelings against migrants among the population.

According to the Xinhua, officials announced that authorities will halt the issue of new applications for temporary protection papers in capital Ankara, and prevent unregistered Syrians from residing in the city.

Interior Ministry Spokesman Ismail Catakli told reporters last week: "This measure can also be extended to other big cities where refugees are regrouped in significant numbers."

A source close to the matter told Xinhua that the government is "aware about the concerns in the society regarding refugees and is determined to address the issue with new measures."

This source who spoke on the condition of anonymity insisted that "greater control should be exerted on refugee communities, especially in big cities."

According to the Xinhua, Turkey hosts some 3.6 million refugees who have fled the civil war in Syria for over a decade. Half a million of migrants of other nationalities have also found refuge in Turkey.

The nation is lately concerned about an exodus from Afghanistan following the takeover of the Taliban in the war-torn nation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there some 300,000 Afghans in Turkey.

A pro-government pundit said that Erdogan has decided on a shift in his country's refugee policy and is planning to repatriate Afghan refugees as a first move.

"Turkey is not Europe's warehouse for refugees," the Turkish leader insisted, echoing concerns in the society and also among his electoral base who see migrants as a threat to jobs.

Economic hardships, which was worsen by the COVID-19 pandemic, have exacerbated negative sentiments about refugees in Turkey.

Afghans are believed to be the second-largest refugee community in Turkey after Syrians. Many of the migrants arriving via Iran are heading for Istanbul to find work or passage to another coastal city from which to embark for Europe.

In the face of a new potential migrant wave due to the instability in Afghanistan, Turkey has maximized measures on its eastern border with Iran, building a three-meter high wall to prevent illegal entries.

"We are doing our best to make the border impassable," Mehmet Emin Bilmez, governor of Van province, which has a long border with Iran, told state-run Anadolu agency.

The Xinhua said that nearly half of the huge Syrian community in Turkey work informally, according to a recent study by the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV). However, despite the problems they face, 79 percent of the Syrians want to continue to stay in Turkey, shows the survey.

In big cities such as Istanbul and Ankara, Syrians have become more visible over the years with many Syrian-run restaurants, cafes, grocery or barbers whops, with advertisements written in Arabic.

Stores like these have been the target of an attack last month in an Ankara neighbourhood following a deadly brawl between Syrians and locals, pushing authorities to set restrictions.

Ankara's new measures will however divide some Syrian families.

Abdulkader, a 38-year-old refugee, told Xinhua: "I am registered in Ankara with my wife and children, but my brother, who works here, and his family are not. So they will be deported to Sanliurfa, a province in the southeast, at the Syrian border."

He added: "We will be separated and we don't know how they will earn a living there, it will definitely be difficult."

Source: xinhua

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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.