Horrific Crime Shakes Homs on Eid Day... Claims the Lives of an Entire Family
Protecting civilians and achieving justice for victims represents a top priority for building trust between societal components and establishing a transitional phase that guarantees the rights of all
March 31, 2025, 9:13 pm

Horrific Crime Shakes Homs on Eid Day... Claims the Lives of an Entire Family

Photo by Ahmed akacha: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crowd-gathering-in-homs-city-syria-29815741/

The city of Homs witnessed a heinous crime that claimed the lives of an entire family in the Karm Al-Zeitoun neighborhood, where citizens were killed at dawn on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, March 31, 2025, amid a media blackout on the details of the incident.

This barbaric crime reflects the continuing security breakdown in some Syrian regions and the absence of adequate protection for civilians under extremely difficult circumstances.

Circulating information indicates that the victims are citizen "Bashar Ibrahim," his wife "Ola," and their three children: "Ghazal," 16 years old, "Ahmed," 12 years old, and "Haitham," only 2 years old, in addition to a sixth person believed to have been a guest of the family.

The targeting of young children and an entire family raises major questions about the motives behind this crime and calls for a comprehensive and transparent investigation to uncover the circumstances and hold those involved accountable.

Local sources reported that the suspects in carrying out this crime are a person called "Abu Khaled" and his son, who work with General Security in the mentioned neighborhood, raising questions about how some elements exploit their security positions to carry out criminal acts.

Reports mentioned that the accused had previously participated in the displacement of other community components from the area, and that this family was unable to leave the area due to its difficult financial circumstances, making it an easy target. This pattern of targeting reveals the dangers of forced displacement operations and discriminatory policies that target some community components and threaten the Syrian social fabric.

This crime comes in a context connected to similar incidents that have occurred recently in other parts of Syria, reflecting serious challenges in terms of protecting civilians and controlling security breakdown. These recurring incidents test local authorities and their seriousness in combating violence, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and activating the role of the judiciary.

Despite the media blackout on the crime, its details spread through social media, amid widespread demands for holding the perpetrators accountable and revealing the full facts to the public.

This horrific crime, which occurred on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, causes a state of shock and pain in Syrian society, especially with the targeting of young children and an entire family that found no one to protect it.

Providing protection for the most vulnerable groups in society represents a moral and legal responsibility of local authorities and the international community, especially in light of the continuing suffering of civilians in various Syrian regions.

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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.