Bahrain: Rage against the F1 machine

‘If the race went ahead it will be taking place in a country whose government continues to commit gross human rights violations, from arbitrary arrests to torture’

PRO-DEMOCRACY activists in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain are staging a second day of protests on Friday as part of a ‘Day of Rage’ ahead of Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

International media have reported that thousands from the Shi’ite Muslim majority demonstrated againt the repressive regime of the Sunni royal family on Thursday night in several areas across Bahrain, burning tyres and blocking roads.

Many have been chanting: “No Formula on Bahrain’s occupied land . . . No blood Formula,” in a reference to the Formula One motor racing spectacular. Police have retaliated by firing tear gas and stun grenades.

Security police, accused of torture over many years, have been busy in recent days arresting civil rights campaigners in a bid to stifle what organisers say are part of the Arab Spring.

Bahrain is an ally of the West in the Middle East and home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was cancelled in 2011. Month-long protests in early 2011 were crushed with the help of Gulf troops led by neighbouring Saudi Arabia, a major ally of Britain and the USA.

This month, a letter co-signed by four non-governmental organisations has been sent to Formula One “supremo” Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt, head of Formula One’s governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), urging them to call off the event.

The appeal came from the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, the Bahrain Press Association, the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, and the Britain-based Campaign Against Arms Trade. They said:

“If the race went ahead it will be taking place in a country whose government continues to commit gross human rights violations, from arbitrary arrests to torture.

“Given the global controversy and public outcry, last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix was an embarrassment to the sport and all those who took part.

“The race was used by the Bahrain Government to broadcast a false picture of normality. The situation in Bahrain has not improved since last year. If anything, it is getting worse.

“By continuing to race, Formula One is facilitating the culture of impunity through which the authorities have operated.

“We hope you do not repeat last year’s mistake. If you do, you will again be allowing a repressive regime to hijack your sport for political purposes.”

Britain’s 1996 F1 world champion, Damon Hill, has been critical of the F1 chiefs for not taking a clear stance on repression that has been condemned by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Damon Hill said:

“The question really is whether or not F1 going to Bahrain is actually going to be furthering brutal repression of people by being an endorsement of the way in which repression has been meted out.”

Billionaire Bernie Ecclestone has repeatedly been dismissive of the democracy protests. This year he brushed them off by saying that the Bahraini demonstrators are no different to “those complaining about Mrs Thatcher”.

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