In April 2013 human rights groups and politicians raised concerns about the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix. Human rights NGOs including FIDH and Human Rights First, wrote to Formula One drivers concerning the detention of prisoners of conscience and UK Members of Parliament urged Formula One to cancel the race.  

The concerns in 2013 follow protests in 2012 and the human rights concerns raised over the implications of the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2012.  See our special page on this here.  In April 2012 Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited over 50 companies to respond to the concerns raised by civil society but only 29% of those approached did so.

Below is a selection of news & NGO coverage regarding the concerns about the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Bahrain Grand Prix motors on as Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone says: 'What human rights? – I don't know what they are'
Richard Hall, Independent (UK) 21 Apr 2013

Bahrain protesters are just like those 'complaining about Mrs Thatcher', says F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone
Oliver Brown, Telegraph [UK] 16 Apr 2013

Bahrain Grand Prix: MPs want race cancelled because of unrest
BBC, 16 Apr 2013 

Letter to Formula One drivers concerning the detention of prisoners of conscience in Bahrain
FIDH - International Federation for Human Rights, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain, Just Foreign Policy, Freedom House, Human Rights First, POMED - Project On Middle East Democracy, PHR - Physicians for Human Rights, 13 Apr 2013

Motor racing-F1 sponsors show limited appetite for Bahrain GP
Keith Weir, Reuters, 12 Apr 2013