Human rights groups welcome cancelled Bahrain GP

Human rights groups welcomed the cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday while Formula One’s governing body requested a revised 2011 calendar.

Bahrain organizers pulled the plug on this year’s race, ending efforts to reschedule a controversial grand prix that had angered rights groups in the politically tense Gulf nation and teams who were against extending the season into December.

F1 governing body FIA sought to clear up the mess caused by its decision a week ago to reschedule Bahrain for 30 October and bump the inaugural India GP from that date to December.

“In the light of the statement by the Bahrain International Circuit, the FIA is now waiting for the commercial rights holder (F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone) to propose a new calendar to the World Motor Sport Council,” FIA said in a statement.

FIA initially said last week’s vote was done in a “spirit of reconciliation,” but it has turned out to be a public relations disaster.

Already under fire for putting profits ahead of human rights, FIA came off looking dangerously ill-informed about the events in the troubled island nation, and seemingly eager to please a well-heeled Gulf monarchy at the expense of racing teams who fear the calendar changes would create a logistical nightmare.

“The government has admitted the fact that Bahrain is not back to normal. It can’t hide the fact that Bahrain is in a crisis,” said Nabeel Rajab, a leading activist in the country and president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights.

“They tried their level best but the international community didn’t buy that,” he added. “You can’t have a race while a a big proportion of your population is in jail and being systemically tortured.”

At least 31 people have been killed since the protests began in February, inspired by revolts against autocratic leaders in Tunisia and Egypt. The protests in Bahrain took on a sectarian tone, with the majority Shiite protesters taking to the streets to demonstrate against the Sunni-led kingdom and alleged widespread discrimination.

Bahrain GP organizers couldn’t deny the ongoing political unrest which caused the race to be postponed from its original date in March, in the first place.

“It has been made clear that this fixture cannot progress and we fully respect that decision,” Bahrain International Circuit chairman Zayed R. Alzayani said in a statement.


(2011-6-11/independent)