Restructuring Syrian Media: Policies and Press Freedom Concerns
October 23, 2024, 12:31 pm

Restructuring Syrian Media: Policies and Press Freedom Concerns

النظام السوري / ليفانت نيوز

The President of the Council of Ministers in the Syrian regime, Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, has directed the Ministry of Information to study the restructuring of media institutions and resolve the issues related to human resources within them. This came during a session of the Council of Ministers, where the Ministry of Information's vision for developing national media policies was discussed, based on the directives of the regime's president.

Discussions focused on the importance of establishing a comprehensive media policy that enhances the role of government media and facilitates access to information through the media offices of public entities. The Ministry of Information's memorandum was referred to the Human Development Committee for study in preparation for its submission to the council for a final decision.

The regime's Minister of Information, Ziad Ghosn, confirmed to the pro-regime newspaper "Al-Watan" that this vision aims to lay the "foundation for a new media policy by organizing dialogue sessions that include all media activities, both public and private." He also pointed to the efforts being made to amend the media law in cooperation with journalists and relevant media outlets.

Despite the Syrian regime's statements about developing and restructuring the media, the reality indicates a further tightening of media freedom, as evident from the new media law approved by the People's Assembly last March. This law raised widespread concerns among journalists working in regime-held areas, as they accused the media draft of marginalizing their views and distorting them in its formulation, increasing fears of censorship pressures and the regime's control over media production.

Ironically, Ziad Ghosn criticized the new law before assuming the position of Minister of Information, noting that it represents a significant regression compared to the previous law. He clarified at the time that Article 15 of the draft allows for the suspension of journalists for allegedly circulating or publishing unreliable or prohibited information, which he considered a response to external pressures, and called for more comprehensive clarifications and a genuine media code of ethics.

Ghosn also expressed his objection to the law’s neglect of the rights of independent journalists, as it restricts their work to using cards issued by the union or the Ministry of Information, thus hindering their professional independence. He also raised concerns about the amendment that grants the Minister of Information the authority to form a special committee to penalize violators, indicating that this measure shifts judicial authority to a committee within the ministry, raising questions about the constitutionality of this decision.

Syria continues to rank at the bottom of press freedom indicators, occupying the last place in the Arab world and 175th globally in 2023, according to the "Reporters Without Borders" report, which confirmed that the Syrian regime uses social media to monitor and arrest critics, even among its supporters, based on their online writings.

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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.