Controversy Over President's Brother Taking High Position
April 6, 2025, 12:11 pm

Controversy Over President's Brother Taking High Position

ماهر الشرع

On Saturday, the Syrian presidency appointed Maher al-Shar’a, the brother of President Ahmad al-Shar’a, as the Secretary-General of the Presidency, replacing Abdul Rahman Salama, who will assume another undisclosed position.

According to Al-Arabi Al-Jadid newspaper, the position of Secretary-General of the Presidency is one of the important roles within the state structure, where the holder is responsible for managing administrative and organizational affairs in the presidency, overseeing the president’s agenda, organizing official meetings and visits, and following up on the implementation of presidential directives in coordination with government institutions.

The Secretary-General is also responsible for coordinating correspondence and official files, supervising the presidency staff and its affiliated departments. He represents the president at certain official events, making him a key link between the presidency and state institutions.

Maher al-Shar’a previously served as the acting Minister of Health in the government of Mohammad al-Bashir, which was formed after the collapse of Assad’s regime on December 16, 2024.

Maher al-Shar’a was born in Damascus in 1973 and obtained a Ph.D. in medical sciences specializing in gynecological surgery and infertility treatment, along with a diploma in health systems management. He also served as a health consultant in Northern Syrian hospitals during 2022 and 2023.

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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.”