Especially Turkey... Sweida Witnesses Protest Against Foreign Presence
The continuation of weekly protest stands indicates a growing popular movement demanding radical changes in the structure of the political system away from the centralized policies that prevailed in p
April 20, 2025, 11:54 pm

Especially Turkey... Sweida Witnesses Protest Against Foreign Presence

السويداء \ مصدر الصورة: المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان

A number of youth and activists resumed their fifth weekly anti-authority stand in Karama Square in the center of Sweida city this Sunday morning. The protesters denounced the presence of foreign forces on Syrian territory, especially Turkey, considering their presence an occupation of Syrian lands.

Participants carried banners expressing their rejection and opposition to the new authority and the national flag, demanding radical changes in the political system.

In a notable development on April 18, dozens of Sweida residents, in a celebratory atmosphere, changed the name of "Tishreen Square" to "Martyr Khaldoun Zain al-Din Square," commemorating the memory of the commander of the Sultan Pasha al-Atrash Battalion of the Free Syrian Army. This initiative came after the approval of the city council.

According to local sources, Khaldoun Zain al-Din and his companions were martyred in the Dahr al-Jabal area in Sweida in early 2013 during confrontations with the forces of the former regime. His battalion had taken Daraa governorate as a center for its operations since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011.

These protest movements come in the context of growing popular demands to adopt a system of governance away from the centralized governance policies that were prevalent under the previous regime headed by Bashar al-Assad, which led to the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a limited group.

Analysts believe that the continuation of protests in Sweida reflects the aspirations of the local community towards active participation in decision-making and rejection of external interventions, especially Turkish, in Syrian affairs.

The renaming of public squares constitutes a symbolic step towards local communities reclaiming their right to self-determination and managing their affairs in accordance with their cultural and social specificity.

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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.”