Bahrain acts to defend grand prix

BAHRAIN Grand Prix organisers have moved swiftly to rebuff calls from human rights groups for Formula 1 teams to boycott this year’s race.

Last season’s race was cancelled following political unrest. That has led to Nabeel Rajab, vice-president for the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, claiming a campaign will be launched urging teams and drivers to stay away from the event that is planned for 20-22 April.

They are supported by Human Rights Watch who insist F1’s world governing body the FIA “should consider the serious abuse of human rights in Bahrain and the fact to this day authorities continue to suppress pro-democracy protests”.

However, following the release of an independent report in November that was commissioned by the king of Bahrain to look into the events that occurred last year, the authorities insist they are acting. A spokesman for the Bahrain International Circuit said: “The report found evidence of human rights violations and the government has fully acknowledged the findings of the report and is acting convincingly on the recommendations.”