Human Rights: the FIA could get involved
Many political figures want Formula 1 to use its influence to put pressure on certain nations: the Middle East is targeted for its lack of respect for human rights.
As the first GP of the season is about to take place this weekend in Bahrain, the country is under close scrutiny regarding human rights abuses. Human rights groups have also heavily criticized Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Azerbaijan, and the United Arab Emirates, which host Formula 1 races. Furthermore, Amnesty International continues to criticize the use of the death penalty in the United States, where three races will be held this year.
According to the BBC, the FIA declares that sports like Formula 1 are particularly well positioned to cross borders and cultures in order to bring countries and communities together to share the passion and enthusiasm of competition. We take our responsibilities very seriously and have clearly made our position on human rights known to all our partners and host countries who are committed to respecting them in the way their events are organized and presented.
Lord Scriven openly criticized the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, last January for not responding to a letter concerning concerns raised about human rights: « It is unfortunate that the current leaders of the FIA and F1 seem to prioritize money, profit, and their own importance rather than respecting human rights in the countries where they are present. »
The Bahrain GP in the crosshairs
Sayed Alwadaei, director of the Bahrain Institute of Rights and Democracy [BIRD], advocating for democratization and human rights in Bahrain, declared: “It is high time for F1 and the FIA to cease their activities with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which use their presence to whitewash the blood-soaked images of these autocracies.”
Despite a horrible human rights record, both states benefit from generous contracts with F1 and exploit their platform to maintain their image on the global stage, while thousands of political prisoners languish behind bars. F1 must establish an independent and impartial investigation to examine human rights violations, and the FIA must adopt a human rights policy in line with UN principles. Failing to do so would allow their sport to continue being used to repair the reputation of brutal dictators.
In response to the numerous attacks, Bahrain asserts that significant progress has been made in safeguarding and protecting human rights and preserving the dignity of its citizens and residents. The state is committed to respecting internationally recognized human rights in its operations.
Despite these statements, the Chambers of Parliament organized a press conference on Tuesday, during which current and former political prisoners testified about their experiences in the Gulf nation, while the families of death row inmates wrote to Formula 1 drivers asking them to intervene and show their support. Considering the commitment of certain drivers, notably Lewis Hamilton, the attitudes of the drivers will be closely scrutinized during this weekend’s Grand Prix.
