Investigative Report: Syrian Field Courts Detain Children for Execution Upon Reaching Adulthood
The detention of child prisoners until they reach legal age reveals a systematic policy by the Syrian regime to circumvent international laws prohibiting the execution of minors
November 2, 2024, 10:32 pm

Investigative Report: Syrian Field Courts Detain Children for Execution Upon Reaching Adulthood

السجون السورية \ تعبيرية

An investigative report conducted by "The Syrian Unit for Investigative Journalism - Siraj" revealed a systematic punitive method followed by Syrian security agencies in dealing with detained children since 2011, where they are held without trial until reaching legal age (18 years), after which they are transferred to military field courts and executed.

The investigation documented 25 cases of Syrian children who were transferred to military field courts and received death sentences, including 24 confirmed deaths, distributed across the governorates of Hama (18 children), Homs (3 children), Idlib (2 children), and Aleppo and Daraa (one child each).

A source who worked in military police for three years explained that he witnessed more than 6,000 cases of underage detainees who received death sentences, noting that this number represents only what he witnessed during his work period.

According to the Syrian Legal Development Program, these practices constitute a flagrant violation of international law, which prohibits imposing death penalty or life imprisonment on those under 18 years old, and also violates Syrian law itself.

A report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights documented that military field courts issued 14,843 death sentences from March 2011 until August 2023, including 114 children and 26 women, with executions carried out against 7,872 people.

The investigation team reached the only survivor from the list, Mustafa Kamel Al-Khatib (28 years old), who recounted details of his arrest in 2013 while he was a ninth-grade student, and how his arrest date was changed to avoid registering him as a minor, before being sentenced to death then having the sentence reduced to 12 years after his family paid large sums of money.

Executions are carried out in Sednaya Military Prison, where human rights organizations documented the hanging of about 13,000 people between 2011 and 2015, after mock trials not exceeding two minutes before the military field court.

Despite the abolition of military field courts by presidential decree in September 2023, legal experts confirm that security agencies continue to refer detainees to military courts, terrorism courts, or civil judiciary, with the assessment of "crime and its description" remaining subject to security agencies, amid the absence of judicial independence.

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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.