Zarqa Sabahiya: A Voice from the Syrian Coast – 'We Want to Live with Dignity'
Expressions of sectarian hate directed at Zarqa Sabahiya, a woman from Syria’s coastal region, sparked widespread outrage both locally and internationally amid the tragic events
March 14, 2025, 7:11 pm

Zarqa Sabahiya: A Voice from the Syrian Coast – 'We Want to Live with Dignity'

السيدة زرقة سباهي \ متداولة

Zarqa Sabahiya, a grieving Syrian mother who recently captured public attention, received a delegation at her home offering condolences for the loss of her children and grandchild. Addressing the visitors, including Latakia official Mohammad Othman, she delivered an emotional message, saying: "You are all my children."

Appearing in a widely shared video with remarkable strength and composure, Sabahiya emphasized that her family is not concerned with past or present political regimes; their sole aspiration is to live with dignity.

According to Syria’s official news agency "SANA," Latakia official Mohammad Othman extended condolences to the bereaved mother, accompanied by a member of the Supreme Committee for Civil Peace and the director of the province’s political office.

Othman expressed deep sympathy and reaffirmed the commitment of Syria’s interim caretaker government to prosecuting those responsible for the crimes and providing full support to the victims’ families. He further pledged to ensure that such painful incidents do not recur.

The heartbreaking image of Sabahiya standing beside the bodies of her slain children triggered a wave of public outrage. This was exacerbated by reports that the armed perpetrators, whose identities remain unverified, directed sectarian insults at the grieving mother, who hails from Syria’s predominantly Alawite coastal region.

The surge of violence in Syria’s coastal areas has sent shockwaves both domestically and internationally. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that hundreds of people have perished in what has been described as one of the deadliest episodes in recent years.

Sabahiya’s story stands as a tragic yet powerful testament to the suffering of Syrian civilians, who continue to endure indiscriminate violence affecting men, women, and children alike. Her experience underscores the urgent need to strengthen civil peace and reject sectarianism and violence across all Syrian regions.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”