Autoblog

Protests embroil F1 in Bahrain yet again [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Middle East

Law enforcement in Bahrain is once again cracking down on pro-democracy protesters ahead of the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix. The Formula One race focuses the world's attention on the Middle Eastern kingdom each year, and protesters take the occasion to demonstrate against the ruling family.

This year, human rights organizations cried foul after the government arrested 70 people in a preemptive move to quell unrest. Around 20 people from the Dar Klaib and Shanrakan villages near the Bahrain International Circuit have been detained along with a further 50 individuals from Aldeir and Sameheij closer to the airport.

Some of the detainees are known journalists and photographers, and contrary to the government's hopes, the arrests have seemingly served to fuel the protests. Demonstrators hold that the F1 race lends legitimacy to the current government while the ruling party continues to oppress its people.

You can watch the full news report below for more information. The Bahrain GP is slated to take place on April 21.

Continue reading Protests embroil F1 in Bahrain yet again [w/video]

Protests embroil F1 in Bahrain yet again [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anonymous hacks official F1 website ahead of Bahrain GP

John Neff — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Middle East

The group of hackers known as Anonymous issued a press release last night announcing their intent to hack and take down the official website for Formula One at formulaone.com for the duration of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Their reason? To protest the increasingly violent crackdown on the people of Bahrain by their own government.

As of this writing, formulaone.com is down as promised and another website, F1-racers.net, is displaying a message from Anonymous that claims responsibility.

In its press release, Anonymous addresses Bernie Ecclestone, president and CEO of Formula One, directly, promising the following:

Anonymous will turn your web site (www.formula1.com) into a smoking crater in cyber space. We will also jam your phone lines, bomb your E-Mail inboxes - and wreck anything else of yours we can find on the internet.

The group also calls upon fans of F1 to ignore the race by either not attending in person or watching it on television. They also appeal to the drivers themselves to protest the race by not crossing the starting line at the beginning of the race.

Last year's Bahrain Grand Prix was cancelled due to civil unrest, and despite the increasing frequency of protests and severity of their crackdown leading up to this weekend's race, it has not yet been cancelled. As a result, activists, now including the Anonymous group, are using the motorsport's worldwide popularity to gain attention for their cause.

Scroll down to read the press release from Anonymous in full.

Continue reading Anonymous hacks official F1 website ahead of Bahrain GP

Anonymous hacks official F1 website ahead of Bahrain GP originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Demonstrations in Bahrain take fatal turn, spur F1 protests *UPDATE

Zach Bowman — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, Middle East

Protesters in Bahrain continue to push for democratic reforms in the country, and police have stepped up a brutal crackdown ahead of the upcoming Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix. Last year, unrest forced F1 to cancel the race, but Bernie Ecclestone, president and CEO of the series, has said that won't happen in 2012. Protestors have turned their ire against F1 organizers, saying the race belittles the strife and sacrifices of those working toward democracy. In an attempt to quell the demonstrations, plainclothes police have reportedly responded with violence. Crowds have faced tear gas and rubber bullets as well as live rounds. At least one protestor died in the fray.

The movement has rallied around the death. Twitter has played host to a campaign to cancel the race with the hashtags #BloodyF1 and #NoF1 gaining popularity. One video commentator said, "Do not tarnish the reputation of the respected auto sport with the blood of Bahrain victims."

Bahrain is currently controlled by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty.

*UPDATE: As a point of clarification, Ahmed Ismael Abulsamed, the demonstrator who was shot and died of his injuries, was originally protesting for democratic reform, not against the F1 race.

Demonstrations in Bahrain take fatal turn, spur F1 protests *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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