Iran's assassinations of exile opposition leaders
August 11, 2021, 1:37 pm

Iran's assassinations of exile opposition leaders

Zara saleh

For more than 40 years Iran's assassinations and terrorist activities abroad have become the main strategy of dealing with Iranian activists and political opposition leaders. Tens of assassinations have been carried out by the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and the Ministry of Intelligence but also conducted by proxy groups such Hezbollah, Al-Hashed Al-Shaabi, and other agents affiliated with the Iranian intelligence. More than 360 assassinations abroad have been carried out by the Iranian regime according to the American State Department. Most of these political murders were took place across Europe and in different countries such as the US, India, Iraq, and United Arab Emirates.

Last Saturday, the Iranian opposition Kurdistan Democratic Party accused Iranian agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard of assassinating Musa Babakhani who was a member of the Central Committee of the party. Babakhani was kidnapped and found dead in an Erbil hotel in the Kurdistan region with the marks of torture. The Kurdistan Democratic Party was banned like other Kurdish and opposition parties since so-called Iran's "Islamic Revolution" in 1979.

Iranian regime began to target the Kurdish leaders and activists inside Iran and abroad through hundreds of assassinations as a political approach against its opposition. The Iranian regime has started a series of assassinations against the Iranian Kurdish leaders. Despite he was holding negotiations with the Iranian officials, Dr. Abdelrahman Qassemlou the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) was killed by Iranian agents in Vienna, Austria in 1989 with the other three leaders of the Kurdish party. The same scenario has happened to the general secretary of KDP-Iran Sadegh Sharafkandi.

He was assassinated at Mykonos restaurant in Berlin in 1992 when he was in negotiations with the Iranian government envoys. Such scenarios had happened to tens of Iranian opposition leaders in various capitals of Europe. The West’s appeasement approach with no serious acts against Tehran has encouraged the Iranian regime to carry out such brutal methods of elimination. By conducting such methods of assassinations towards its opposition, Iran is trying in a brutal manner to send a message that even abroad they are not safe, and their agents can reach them with no red lines.

The recent assassination of the Kurdish leader Babakhani was another target of terror episode while Tehran officially had a meeting with the President of Kurdistan region Nechirvan Barzani. The Iranian message was also to the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) that can be understood as an obvious warning regarding the KRG relations with the US. Added to that, Iran is trying to warn the Biden administration how they have a huge influence not only Shia part of Iraq but in the Kurdistan region as well when they need it. However, the Iranian regime's long history and decades of assassinations and terror attacks should be taken into consideration by the US and Europe and must be stopped. thelevant

by: Zara Saleh thelevant

Zara Saleh

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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.