Formula 1 has been accused of ignoring the abuse of human rights in Bahrain on the eve of the brand new season beginning within the nation this weekend.
The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird) says F1 has “deserted those that have been tortured and imprisoned” partly consequently of criticism of the race.
An F1 spokesperson stated: “We take our tasks on rights very critically and set excessive moral requirements for counter-parties and these in our provide chain.”
These have been “enshrined in contracts, and we pay shut consideration to their adherence”.
Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, the director of advocacy for Bird, has written a letter to F1 president and chief government officer Stefano Domenicali following the choice to award the Bahrain race a brand new 15-year contract.
The letter says that the contract “immediately contradicts your declare from final 12 months that F1 takes ‘violence, abuse of human rights and repression very critically'”.
It provides that the grand prix “has contributed to the abuse and suffering of people, and F1 has did not adequately use its platform to place an finish to abuses or safe redress for these victims”.
It stated Bird supported F1’s choice to cancel the Russian Grand Prix contract within the wake of the invasion of Ukraine however stated there “is a transparent double-standard being utilized with international locations within the Middle East” within the context of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in a battle in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia hosts the second race of the season. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which hosts the season finale in Abu Dhabi, have been additionally concerned in Yemen, Alwadaei stated.
He requested F1 to assessment its coverage on races within the Middle East and rethink its place on an unbiased fee to research human rights violations linked to the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Bird has additionally written to some drivers asking them to “publicly rise up for human rights in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, together with on social media platforms”.
The F1 spokesperson stated: “For many years, Formula 1 has labored onerous to be a constructive drive in all places it races, together with financial, social, and cultural advantages.
“Sports like Formula 1 are uniquely positioned to cross borders and cultures to convey international locations and communities collectively to share the eagerness and pleasure of unbelievable competitors and achievement.”
