US politicians speak to Druze leader Sheikh Al Hajari as anti-Assad protests continue
September 22, 2023, 2:24 pm

US politicians speak to Druze leader Sheikh Al Hajari as anti-Assad protests continue

Three members of the US House of Representatives have spoken to Syrian Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat Al Hajari in a show of bipartisan support from Washington, as protests against Syrian President Bashar Al Assad continue.

Republicans Joe Wilson, chairman of the Middle East subcommittee on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, French Hill and Democrat Brendan Boyle held calls with the spiritual leader this week.

The engagements come as protests in the Druze-majority city of Suweida, which hearken back to 2011's unprecedented displays of anti-regime sentiment, pass the one-month mark.

Mr Boyle “reaffirmed bipartisan congressional support for the peaceful protests in Suweida and Deraa” during his conversation with Sheikh Al Hajari, he told The National.

“As the co-chair of the Friends of a Free, Stable, and Democratic Syria Caucus, I enjoyed the opportunity to speak briefly with Sheikh Hikmat Al Hajari on Tuesday … I urge my other colleagues in the House and Senate to do the same,” he added.

Demonstrations broke out after authorities more than doubled fuel prices in a marked change to Mr Al Assad’s civil war strategy of placating minority sects.

A representative from Mr Hill's office told The National that during his conversation with Sheikh Al Hajari, they discussed “the frustrations of the local people … and how the Sheikh is concerned about their safety”.

Sheikh Al Hajari “also reported that the Assad regime is cutting off access to water and electricity, and talked about the nightly Captagon trafficking … and he's concerned over the impact Captagon has on [Suweida's] young people”, the representative added.

The calls, enabled by the Washington-based Syrian Emergency Task Force, felt like “a conversation between friends”, the group's executive director Mouaz Moustafa told The National.

“Now Sheikh Al Hajari has had higher-level US engagements than Bashar Al Assad,” he added.

Mr Moustafa, who sat in on the calls, said Sheikh Al Hajari expressed fears to the congressmen that “Iranian-backed militias would perpetrate more violence” in the protest-rattled governorate, and expressed the “importance [for him], as a spiritual leader, to ensure demonstrations remain peaceful”.

Last week, Assad regime security forces injured at least three people after firing on demonstrators outside a local government building, a watchdog said.

“For the people of Suweida, whether Druze or Bedouin or Muslim or Christian, [the phone calls] show the world is watching,” Mr Moustafa added.

The pre-eminent spiritual body for Druze people in Suweida is split on the protests.

Two of the body’s three head clerics, including Sheikh Al Hajari and Sheikh Hamoud Al Hannawi, have offered their support for demonstrations against the regime. But the spiritual body's third cleric, Sheikh Youssef Jarbouh, maintains a pro-Assad stance, claiming that “Suweida will not deviate from the decision of the Syrian state”, according to research from the US-based Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

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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.