F1 advised by Human Rights Watch to quit Bahrain
US-based Human Rights Watch has asked the body governing Formula One to consider the deteriorating rights situation in Bahrain when considering next week whether to reinstate its Grand Prix.
Bahrain cancelled the prestigious event, was which was to take place in March, after democracy campaigners inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia began their own protest movement in the Gulf Arab state.
"Racing officials should seriously consider the appropriateness of holding a Formula One event this year in Bahrain in light of the scale of human rights violations there," the rights watchdog said in a statement released late on Thursday.
The Sunni Muslim-run government broke up the protest movement in March, declared martial law and launched a crackdown on opposition groups dominated by Shi'ite Muslims, who form a majority in Bahrain, accusing them of links to Shi'ite Iran.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates sent troops to help Bahrain restore order.
Three months of martial law is due to end on June 1, two days before the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) takes a decision in Barcelona on whether to hold the Bahrain Grand Prix later this year.
Human Rights Watch "questioned whether a successful Formula One event could be held in an environment characterised by large-scale arbitrary arrests, prolonged incommunicado detentions, credible allegations of torture, and mass dismissals of workers."
The government said it released 515 people from detention last week. It says any cases of abuse in detention are isolated, subject to investigation and not official policy.
Bahraini rights activists say they estimate that over 1,000 people remain in detention.
The authorities are holding a series of military trials, which look set to continue after the June 1 end of martial law.
Two protesters have been condemned to death over the killing of two policemen when security forces broke up the protests.
Thousands of Shi'ites have been fired or suspended from jobs in state-run companies and institutions. Human Rights Watch said that includes the staff of the Bahrain International Circuit, where the Bahrain Grand Prix takes place.
Bahrain hopes the end of the emergency law will herald a return to normality that allows leisure and business travellers to return. Opposition and rights figures say they fear repression will continue behind the scenes.
This month U.S. President Barack Obama called on Bahrain, ruled by the Sunni Al-Khalifa family, to reopen talks with the opposition. He criticised the destruction of Shi'ite mosques during the period of martial law.
Comment 8 - 27 of 27
IF F1 comes to Bahrain, please give a thought to those poverty stricken villages on the way to the race track. Tens of villages who continue to be raided, blockaded and gassed on a daily basis by imported armed masked government security men. The villagers are humiliated and beaten at checkpoints and sometime disappeared by foreign soldiers. why? just for daring to ask for justice and democracy.
Spare them a thought at least, that is if you can't go see the misery for yourself.
SHAME ON F1 IN BAHRAIN 2011. F1 WILL FOREVER BE TARNISHED.
@p stop saying stuff u dont know!! U dont even know were Zimbabwe is apart from what imperialist BBC and Sky news wants u to believe. "P" for PATHETIC.
Peace between Palestinne and Isreal is but a breathe away. Obama promises peace. Lets all accept what is pratical. Lets accept our Jewish annd Palestine friends as our brothers and sisters.Some mother @#$% will spoil it again. For the sake of oil.
Bahrain and a few others should be removed form the calendar until they have improved their human rights record. The manufacturers, team owners and the sponsors should make themselves heard on this issue and make sure that Bernie and the FIA get the message.
Rizvi keep up the struggle.
lots of empty seats in the grand stands.that was last yrs race and the one before.goverment money props the place up. just the way bernie likes it.
What is happening in Bahrain: *Non Bahrainis are being given nationality through a wicked program called naturalization. (only pro-Khalifa Wahhabi people are given this opportunity). 30 years ago Bahrain had 98% Shiite population, now it has 80% and if the naturalization and killing continues then there will be time when Shiite will reduce to 20%.
*The land corruption is so rampant that the 80% native population has been forced to live in 20% land of underdeveloped villages.
*The Royal families have taken away all sea-facing profitable property by force.
*It is not only about Shiite & Wahhabi problem, it is all about inequality, corruption, people's rights, democracy and freedom.
Simple logic : if majority is pro Khalifa then hold a free and fair election and see the result.
Human Bloody Rightists! Bugger 'um!
Scot, they don't want undercover stealth assassins on their @rs.e
A definite risk here and one that Bernie should not follow through with. If Western military forces struggle to contain insurgents in places like Afghanistan and Iraq where killing is rife, what hope have we got in terms of security for those 'would be' involved in the Bahrain GP where there is zilch active western military presence in the country?
Who cares !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Perhaps we should put FIA on a scud missile and send to Libya with Cameroon!!
The FIA should just move on.
@15 The "human rights" group thought nothing. They don't know where or what China is!! They think its to do with china plates!!
And what does this "human rights" group say about China? Selective politics.
We can't blame everything for our good old Bernie. This is all about commercialism and we can't pretend to be saints. Crown Prince of Bahrain love to have F1, it gives him and his country some pleasure and prestige and also some happiness for those who can afford to watch F1. Are we not been a tad hypocritical? If we that concerned why not try and stop this crazy bombing in Libya in the name of 'protecting innocent civilians'. Since when you can save people when you drop bombs on them?
@3, 4 & 5 You are a bit repetitive aren't you! By thw way, I have been to Bahrain. As far as the country is concerned its a nice place but hot. Country looks well developed and rich looking. I am no expert of the place but people do seem to be happy except for the fact that the country is been run by a family for generations. But it is nothing like Zimbabwe and I can think of worse places than Bahrain. Before we get carried away with our concerns we need to ask ourselves who is behind funding those 'rebels' in the Arab states and who stands to benefit from their dark days!!! Can you guess? I will give you 3 minutes to decide!
I think its an absolute disgrace that Bernie Ecclestone is thinking of reinstating the Bahrain race ,so picture this while we are all sitting there watching a race for our pleasure people are being tortured and murdered not too far away from the track I am a race fan but I will boycott the Bahrain event and I would ask all race fans to do the same Bernie Ecclestone should hang his head in shame if he allows the race to take place
what about the other downtrodden peoples on the F1 circus.
Brazilian jungle folk ?
English ? lol
Where Ecclestone is concerned profit comes before misery,suffering , abuse of fellow human beings,lack of human rights.
But when your filthy rich like Ecclestone and his rch arab friends in Bahrain, human life means nothing and is cheap.
After all Ecclestone has so much money, he has forgotten that he came fron a working class background where people like his father and others had to work hard to earn a crust to feed their families and work all the hours they could in order to make a meagre existence, just like the poor people of Bahrain.
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