Ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Formula One has been accused of ignoring human rights abuses in the country and having a “clear double standard” on where to decide whether and not races should be held.
The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird) said F1 had “abandoned those who have been tortured and imprisoned” in the country in part due to criticism over the race that opened the F1 season on March 20.
The recent Bahrain race signed a major extension of 15 years to continue to host until 2036, which prompted various human rights groups to write to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), the sport’s ten teams and its governing body, the FIA.
In the letter, F1 is accused of “failing to engage with civil society and acknowledging abuses of rights in Bahrain,” and that it is sporting “continued institutionalized repression” in the country.
Among the list of demands made with F1, including the review of the contract with the Bahrain Grand Prix, the letter requires F1 to publicly acknowledge the human rights “crisis” in the country.
F1 released a statement in response, saying: “For decades, Formula One has worked hard to be a positive force everywhere it races, including in the social, economic and social interests.” Sports like Formula One are uniquely positioned to transcend borders and cultures to bring nations and communities together that share the passion and excitement of competition and culture. amazing achievement.
“We take our responsibility for rights very seriously and set high ethical standards for our partners and those in our supply chain, which are spelled out in our contracts, and we pay close attention to them. their compliance.”
The Kingdom of Bahrain released a statement of its own, saying: “Bahrain has led human rights reform in the region and other proposals do not reflect current realities.
“Bahrain has the strongest human rights protections in the region. Independent bodies, such as the Independent Human Rights Ombudsman – the first of its kind in the Middle East – defend against and will investigate any human rights-related issues; a comprehensive training and behavioral reform police code that supports a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of any kind; and judicial reform criminal justice, whether involving judicial reform or alternative sentencing, guarantees better protections and outcomes.
“Attempting to exclude Bahrain from the Formula One calendar is absurd, lacks context and completely undermines the great strides and leadership that Bahrain has shown in this area. Bahrain welcomes and actively supports it. support the role Formula One can play in shedding light on human rights issues in all the countries in which it operates, now and in the future.”
The letter also said F1 had shown “a clear double standard being applied to countries in the Middle East,” following Russia’s decision to cancel the Grand Prix following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine last month. , regarding Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the conflict with Yemen.
In Monday, Guardians Inmates reportedly in Bahrain have written to Lewis Hamilton to praise the seven-time world champion for speaking out on the issue of human rights abuses in the Middle East.
“Your genuine concern about these circumstances has changed the way inmates think about the sport,” the letter reads by the Guardian.
“For us, you are our champion, not only the best at driving, but also a human being who cares about the suffering of others. To reflect our support. For you, a new phenomenon has spread in the prison. Inmates started to write or draw ‘Sir 44’ or ‘Lewis 44’ on their clothes, which we would wear to assist while watching the race. . “
Saudi Arabia hosts its second race of the season on March 27, a week after Bahrain’s event, and also has a 15-year deal with F1 to organize races.
