Bahrain GP should not get green light

Today, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile decide on whether to reschedule the Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain, postponed earlier in the season. This letter was faxed to the FIA to highlight that the situation in Bahrain has not returned to normal and women, in particular, face persecution.

M. Jean Todt
President – Federation Internationale de l’Automobile
8, Place de la Concorde
75008 Paris

Please reply to :-

House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

T 0207 219 4417
F 0207 219 6488
moonm@parliament.uk
www.madeleinemoonmp.com

MM/JH/23/03/2011

03 June 2011

Dear Mr. Todt

Re: Ayat al-Gormezi

You may or may not know who Ayat al-Gormezi is. She was arrested two months ago in Bahrain for reading aloud a poem at a pro-democracy rally. She has not been seen since, but is due to stand trial. Her family have been informed that she is in a military hospital suffering from injuries caused by torture. Martial law may have been lifted in Bahrain, but pro-democracy protestors and in particular, women continue to be persecuted by the Bahraini authorities.

It is beyond belief that the FIA should consider sanctioning the rescheduling of the Formula One Grand Prix against this background of human rights abuses. Refusing to stage the Grand Prix in Bahrain at this time would send a powerful message to the authorities. Formula One will be irreparably damaged if it decides to tacitly endorse the actions of the Bahraini authorities if the Grand Prix goes ahead.

I urge you not to be persuaded by the idea that things have returned to normal in Bahrain, far from it. For the sake of Ayat al-Gormezi and the countless other ordinary people trying to change their country for the better, no Grand Prix should held in Bahrain until such time that its citizens can enjoy freedom from the violent suppression of their democratic rights.

Yours sincerely,

Madeleine Moon MP