London women march against police 'malignant racism and misogyny'
June 8, 2022, 7:21 am

London women march against police 'malignant racism and misogyny'

Bell Riberio Addy, Labour member of parliament for Streatham, said: "Met Police violence against Black people -- especially Black women -- is rarely exposed even in the media."

The Anadolu Agency reported that over a hundred women in London marched 16 kilometers (10 miles) on Tuesday (June 7) to highlight women's fear and "malignant racism and misogyny" against Black women.

The march, organized by the Women's Equality Party, stretched from Fryent Park in northwest London to the Metropolitan Police headquarters, known as the New Scotland Yard.

It came on the second anniversary of the murder of two sisters, Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, in Fryent Country Park, Wembley.

The sisters, who were both daughters of the Venerable Mina Smallman -- the first-ever female archdeacon of a Black and minority background -- went missing after celebrating Henry's birthday in the park, with their bodies found there 36 hours later. Both had died of stab wounds.

More than a hundred women in London marched 16 kilometers (10 miles) on Tuesday (June 7) to highlight women's fear and "malignant racism and misogyny" against Black women.

Two police officers sent to guard the bodies and the scene were later on charged and jailed for taking selfies with the bodies and sharing them, fueling the anger towards the police force amid uproar against increasing institutionalized racism and misogyny against Black women.

The march, dubbed the March on the Met, gathered more people at Trafalgar Square and reached the New Scotland Yard building in central London, where speakers gave voice to their reactions.

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"Police violence against Black people -- especially Black women -- is rarely exposed even in the media," said Bell Riberio Addy, Labour member of parliament for Streatham.

"If they won't accept their institutional racism and misogyny, they are never going to fix the problem -- anything less is all reputation management."

Patsy Stevenson, who was famously photographed handcuffed as she was arrested in March 2021 by Met police officers during a vigil for Sarah Everard, a victim whose kidnapping and murder by an off-duty police officer sent shockwaves across the country, was also among speakers.

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Stevenson said: "The police need to have accountability, listen to people, confront their misogyny and racism and actually change the way they act -- and stop abusing women."

Mandu Reid, leader of the Women's Equality Party, said: "What happened to Bibaa and Nicole is the story of our country."

She wrote on Twitter: "They were murdered by a young man radicalised on the internet. We don't talk about how misogyny permeates every aspect of our society.

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"What's also the story of our country is how some victims matter more than others. How the violence women face is not treated with the severity it should be. Misogyny and racism is baked into where power is held. We are here to write a different ending to that story."

Meanwhile, the London Metropolitan Police apologized on the second anniversary of the sisters' murders to their mother, family, and friends.

A Met spokeswoman said: "We are very sorry for the way we responded," adding that "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Mina Smallman and the family and friends of Nicole and Bibaa for their tragic loss."

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"The level of service we provided was below the standard it should have been and no doubt compounded the distress felt by their loved ones."

Source: aa

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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.