Labour MP Richard Burden is the latest public official to call for the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix not to go ahead, believing the country isn’t yet ready for the sports return.
It follows Damon Hill’s call for a rethink on the event amid ongoing unrest which started in late 2010 and is yet to show signs of abating.
Burden, writing in the Huffington Post, says recent events in which several people have been killed including one last week, proves the country isn’t ready to hold an international event such as an F1 race.
“Damon Hill is right to call on the governing body of motor sport to rethink its decision to go ahead with this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix,” he wrote.
“I say that as someone who is a motor sport nut as well as an MP with a keen interest in the Middle East.
“In a context where genuine and sustainable reform is taking place, holding a Grand Prix could be a unifying event for the people of Bahrain as well as a positive showcase on the world stage. But things are not at that stage.
“Since February last year, 45 people have died on Bahrain’s streets. The latest victim was killed by live ammunition only last week. Hundreds of protesters gathered at the cemetery near his home outside the capital, Manama. Reports say riot police fired tear gas and stun grenades into the crowds, setting off running street clashes.”
Whilst he believes the Bahrain government will do everything in its powers to ensure the race goes ahead untroubled, Burden reckons the damage to the sport by going, could be irreversible.
“No doubt the Bahrain authorities will move heaven and earth to minimise any risks to the teams taking part. But the long term damage to the reputation of F1 and motor sport in general could be considerable.
“In hindsight, the FIA should not have scheduled the 2012 race so early in the season. It was always going to be too early to know how far things had moved on in Bahrain since last year. F1 can’t turn the clock back but, with three weeks to go before the race, it can still rethink. It should do so.”
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