Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has been urged to correct “false” claims about the arrest of Bahraini protestors prior to the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Reports emerged that four Bahraini political protestors were arrested near the Bahrain International Circuit on 5 March, speaking out against sportswashing of human rights abuses in the Gulf country.
Yet the Bahraini government deny that any arrests took place, a view shared by Formula 1, despite evidence first-hand by the protestors and the UK government confirming the arrests.
Now Domenicali has been urged by Paul Scriven, a Liberal Democrat life peer, to correct and respond to these “false” claims about the arrests, as well as speak out “regarding executions and the right to protest without risk of reprisals” in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The two Gulf countries hosted the first two races of the 2023 season.
“Formula One’s denial that these arrested took place has consequences,” Lord Scriven said, in a letter sent to Domenicali.
“This [UK government response], as well as video evidence, directly and conclusively disproves what the Bahraini Government told your office, which was a lie.
“As Formula One shared the Bahraini Government’s false claim with the media, Formula One has a responsibility to correct that, and to speak out against the arrests given Formula One’s position is that ‘individuals should be allowed to protest against and criticise our events without intimidation or reprisals and we seek and obtain...
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