JANUARY 9, 2012

Cloud remains over Bahrain

Bahrain International Circuit has said that it will "work tirelessly" to make the 2012 race a success in the face of weekend calls for F1 teams and drivers to boycott the event from human rights activists.

Bahrain International Circuit has said that it will work tirelessly to make the 2012 race a success in the face of weekend calls for F1 teams and drivers to boycott the event from human rights activists.

Last year's race, scheduled to open the season, was postponed and then cancelled altogether after an embarrassing series of U-turns. This year's event is on the 2012 calendar as the new season's fourth race, on April 22, the week after the Chinese GP.

Nabeel Rajab, vice president of Bahrain's Centre for Human Rights, told Arabianbusiness.com: "We will campaign for... drivers and teams to boycott. The government wants Formula One to tell the outside world that everything is back to normal."

A circuit spokesman, meanwhile, claims that a report into human rights abuses commissioned independently last November, is being acted upon and that the race will go ahead as planned.

However, just two days ago, Reporters without Borders, a non-profit organisation defending the right to be informed, said the following:

"Reporters Without Borders deplores the way the Bahraini security forces continue to intimidate and attack journalists despite the undertakings that the government gave after an independent commission of enquiry released its report on the crackdown on anti-government protests during the first half of 2011.

"The international community must not be taken in by the duplicity with which the government expresses a desire to punish those responsible for the abuses while continuing to crack down on dissent."