Pro-democracy activists in Bahrain have burnt down a massive billboard advertising this weekend’s Formula One Grand Prix. The above photo, said to be taken on a main highway near Manama, was posted to twitter by Dr Ala’a Shehabi. She describes herself as: “Lecturer, writer, activist, driven by the ideology of social justice. I am persona non grata in a geographically misplaced island called Bahrain.”
In addition to the billboard burning, it’s being reported that hundreds of protesters have followed the advice of the opposition party AlWefaq and started to wage a week-long protest in the build up to Sunday’s race.
Abdel Jalil Khalil, AlWefaq leader, told AFP that the party it is not trying to have the grand prix cancelled, but to “take advantage of this week’s race to highlight our political and democratic demands.”
Under the banner of “steadfastness and challenge” protesters will concentrate on villages outside Manama tomorrow, including the Bahrain International Airport, AFP reports.
Bahrain’s race organisers have been promoting the event with the words “Unified: One nation in celebration” (see banner below).
Human Rights Watch spokesperson Tom Porteous has reacted to the FIA’s confirmation to proceed with the race by saying, “The FIA has played into the government’s narrative to gloss over Bahrain’s continuing human rights crisis.”
Porteous added, “the ruling family will attempt to portray today’s decision as a political statement of support for its repressive policies.”
It certainly appears as though Formula One is being used by Bahrain’s constitutional monarchy to suggest everything is fine and dandy. Indirectly this would appear to contradict Bernie Ecclestone’s comments on Friday: “I’m happy that our position is quite clear. We don’t get involved in politics in a country.”
But what if that country is using F1 for political gain?
[Source: AFP, Human Rights Watch & The Guardian]
9 replies on “Week-long protests begin ahead of Bahrain GP”
You know what. They should have pulled the pin on this weeks ago. The F1 Teams and officials are idiots to go there.
Serious question. Has this happened anywhere else?
Seriously hope all teams, and personnel are not harmed. With F1 being there I feel there will be an escalation of protest so it cn be shown to the world. Media reps are being contained and restricted in what they are currently reporting.
They shouldnt go there with the possible risks greater or lesser.
It’s hard to gauge the real truth amidst conflicted agendas. Burning a billboard is harmless enough, but hearing reports of civilians and police getting killed or seriously injured does make me question if F1 really should be racing this weekend.
I won’t be watching F1 this weekend. First race I’ll be missing in years.
[…] del pueblo bahreinÃ: apenas se supo la reciente decisión de la FIA, en las calles de Bahrein los protestantes quemaron pancartas con fotos de Ecclestone, quemaron carteles promocionando la carrera. Hay bombardeos y atentados, y […]
Aaron, burning a Bill Board in Port Adelaide might be “normal” but this is F1 not football. It shouldn’t be happening at all and the civil unrest against the race is enough, to me, to say stop the race altogether.
The money has been spent and the investors want the air time. Let’s pray this doesn’t end nasty….
WEC should cancel Bahrain and race at Petit Le Mans.
Oh I’m sorry. That makes too much sense.
*facepalm*
Yeah mate I agree burning billboards isn’t great. But I’d rather that than a home-made bomb putting seven coppers in hospital, or coppers shooting civilians.
[…] doubt you’re now well versed on the troubles in Bahrain and the fact thousands of protesters are taking to the streets to promote their cause to the […]