Dear Members of the European Parliament,
We are writing to you to draw your attention to the ongoing human rights violations being committed by the Bahraini government and to highlight the use of Formula One racing as a tool to whitewash these crimes.
Bahrain is a small island nation located in the Persian Gulf, with a population of approximately 1.5 million people. The country has been ruled by the Al Khalifa family since 1783, and despite its status as a constitutional monarchy, it has a long history of suppressing political dissent and violating human rights.
Over the past decade, the Bahraini government has intensified its crackdown on political opposition, civil society, and independent media. Human rights organizations have documented numerous cases of extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary detention, and forced disappearance of political activists and their families.
One of the most prominent cases of human rights violations in Bahrain is that of the Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, who has been imprisoned since June 2016. Mr. Rajab is the founder of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and a recipient of numerous international human rights awards. He has been convicted on charges related to his peaceful activism and his critical comments on social media, and his health has deteriorated significantly while in detention.
In addition to targeting political activists and human rights defenders, the Bahraini government has also restricted freedom of expression and assembly. Independent media outlets have been shut down, journalists have been arrested and harassed, and peaceful protests have been violently suppressed by security forces.
Despite these human rights violations, Bahrain has been able to maintain a positive international image, in part thanks to its hosting of the Formula One Grand Prix since 2004. This high-profile sporting event attracts millions of viewers around the world and is marketed as a symbol of Bahrain’s modernity and openness.
However, the reality of hosting the Grand Prix in Bahrain is far from the image projected by the organizers. The Bahraini government has used the event as a tool to silence dissent and whitewash its human rights violations. Prior to the race, security forces have intensified their crackdown on political activists and opposition groups, including by arbitrary arrests and torture.
Furthermore, the Bahraini government has used the Grand Prix as an opportunity to present a false image of stability and prosperity to the international community, while hiding the reality of human rights abuses from the world. The government has restricted the movements of foreign journalists and human rights activists, and has prevented them from accessing areas of the country where the human rights situation is particularly dire.
Formula One Group, the company that owns and manages the Formula One racing series, has been criticized by human rights organizations and activists for continuing to hold the race in Bahrain despite the country’s poor human rights record. The company has defended its decision, arguing that it does not involve itself in politics and that it is not responsible for the actions of the Bahraini government.
However, Formula One Group’s decision to hold the race in Bahrain sends a message of tacit approval to the Bahraini government’s human rights abuses. By providing a platform for the Bahraini government to present a false image of stability and prosperity, Formula One Group is complicit in the government’s efforts to whitewash its crimes.
We call on the European Parliament to take action to hold the Bahraini government accountable for its human rights violations and to urge Formula One Group to reconsider its decision to hold the Grand Prix in Bahrain. Specifically, we ask that the EU take the following steps:
- Condemn the Bahraini government’s ongoing human rights violations, including the arbitrary detention of political activists, torture, and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly.
- Call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Nabeel Rajab.
- Put pressure on the Bahraini government to respect human rights and allow for the establishment of a truly independent and impartial judicial system.
- Demand that the Bahraini government allow independent media and human rights organizations to operate freely and without fear of reprisals.
- Impose targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on Bahraini officials responsible for human rights abuses.
- Review and reconsider the EU’s relationship with Bahrain, including its trade and cooperation agreements, in light of the country’s human rights record.
- Urge Formula One Group to reconsider its decision to hold the Grand Prix in Bahrain, and to take a more proactive approach to respecting human rights and promoting social justice.
- Encourage other international organizations, including the United Nations and its member states, to join in condemning the Bahraini government’s human rights violations and to take concrete steps to address them.
The European Union has a moral and legal obligation to speak out against human rights violations and to hold accountable those who commit them. By taking the above steps, the EU can send a strong message to the Bahraini government that human rights must be respected and protected, and that violations will not be tolerated.
Furthermore, the EU can demonstrate its commitment to promoting human rights and social justice globally, and to ensuring that sport and entertainment are not used as tools to whitewash crimes against humanity.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Sincerely,
Das Deutsche Institut für Demokratie und Entwicklung
