Bahrain’s Formula 1 is an insult to country’s democratic reformers
(CNN) — “Unified: One nation in celebration” is the jubilant slogan of this year’s Formula 1 Grand Prix in Bahrain. The irony could not be harsher: while sports fans look forward to this glamorous race, one of the country’s most prominent human rights activists is close to death in protest of his ongoing unlawful detention.
Solidarity protests in the streets continue to be brutally suppressed. From the perspective of a majority of Bahrain’s population, it is not one nation. And it is certainly not celebrating.
One day after the race, on April 23, the Bahrain government will announce a decision that may determine the island kingdom’s fate.
This decision is whether to release Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a well-known and internationally respected human rights activist in Bahrain. While the watchful international community is hoping for release, it is entirely possible that the. . .For the full article: http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/20/opinion/bahrain-f1-hunger-strike/