Bahraini Hunger Striker On 58th Day Of Protest

Nodin

A leading human rights activist in Bahrain has been moved to a hospital clinic and is being fed intravenously after 58 days on hunger strike.
Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is protesting against a life sentence for his role in anti-government protests last year.

Mr Khawaja was convicted by a special security court of trying to overthrow Bahrain's royal family.

Human rights organisations have called for him to be freed. His lawyer says his condition is worsening.
Mohammed al-Jishi told Reuters that Mr Khawaja was moved to the clinic after losing 10 kg (22lb).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17640200

It's rather bizzarre that an international sporting event is due to be held in a sectarian repressive monarchy such as this. This is what comes of extending the 'cloak of respectability' for strategic purposes. Should the regime be overthrown and replaced by one with an anti-US/"Western" slant, it'll be in part due to such complicity.

chuckliddell

Nodin wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17640200

It's rather bizzarre that an international sporting event is due to be held in a sectarian repressive monarchy such as this. This is what comes of extending the 'cloak of respectability' for strategic purposes. Should the regime be overthrown and replaced by one with an anti-US/"Western" slant, it'll be in part due to such complicity.

what international sporting event?

RichieC

Formula 1 I assume.

Jonny7

They held the cricket in Zimbabwe

I'm not surprised they'll go ahead with the Formula 1 - its disgraceful

p1akuw47h5r3it

Jonny7 wrote: »

They held the cricket in Zimbabwe

I'm not surprised they'll go ahead with the Formula 1 - its disgraceful

Why? In my opinion Sport and politics of individual countries should be kept seperate. And even if you think otherwise holding this sporting event could be used to maybe highlight his plight if people so wish.

Nodin

DanDan6592 wrote: »

Why? In my opinion Sport and politics of individual countries should be kept seperate. And even if you think otherwise holding this sporting event could be used to maybe highlight his plight if people so wish.

....how, might I ask?

Jonny7

DanDan6592 wrote: »

Why? In my opinion Sport and politics of individual countries should be kept seperate. And even if you think otherwise holding this sporting event could be used to maybe highlight his plight if people so wish.

Holding the Grand Prix reinforces the notion that "everything is okay".

Saudi faces being barred from London 2012 because of it's current stance on ruling out women competitors.

The football league in Egypt was halted because of extreme political violence.

Sports and politics should remain separate - within reason. I very much doubt many countries would attend a large international sporting event if it were to be held in Syria this year.

matthew8

Jonny7 wrote: »

Sports and politics should remain separate - within reason. I very much doubt many countries would attend a large international sporting event if it were to be held in Syria this year.

Well that's because Syria's a bit of a warzone right now. The only reason sport and politics should be mixed is if there's genuine danger or the situation is so bad fans cannot/ are too afraid to go there.

p1akuw47h5r3it

Nodin wrote: »

....how, might I ask?

People could protest outside the event. There may be a chance that the authorities would be less likely to have a violent clampdown due to the heightened number of media. Anyhow, I don't see how not holding the event will change anything.

p1akuw47h5r3it

Jonny7 wrote: »

Holding the Grand Prix reinforces the notion that "everything is okay".

Saudi faces being barred from London 2012 because of it's current stance on ruling out women competitors.

The football league in Egypt was halted because of extreme political violence.

Sports and politics should remain separate - within reason. I very much doubt many countries would attend a large international sporting event if it were to be held in Syria this year.

My point is that it is not, in this case, the FIA's place to judge whether everything is "ok" or not. They're only real concern should be the safety of the drivers, teams, spectators etc.

As another poster said Syria is effectively a warzone so would it would not be safe to hold anything there.

With regards to Egypt it is my understanding that the season was cancelled due to 70 fans being killed during a riot at a match (which, in fairness, may have had political undertones). However I think there is a difference between individual fans politicizing an event and an international organisation doing the same thing.

Jonny7

DanDan6592 wrote: »

My point is that it is not, in this case, the FIA's place to judge whether everything is "ok" or not. They're only real concern should be the safety of the drivers, teams, spectators etc.

Fair point and yes I believe that's the technically correct view. However, some could say the FIA stands for more than just motor-racing.. its cooperation across borders, equality, fairness, etc.

The ideals of the Olympics are, I'd argue, even stronger.

So if the FIA talks to the teams, drivers, players and admin - and they decide democratically that the race shouldn't take place in Bahrain due to the political climate - then so be it - it would send a good strong message.

I mean if North Korea were to open a perfect race track.. I doubt anyone in the racing industry with half a brain would morally want to hold a race in a country where the people were starving under that kind of leadership.

In some cases, large sporting events cannot but have political implications.

SamHarris

So this should probably apply to Qatar too?

I get where your coming from, but I have a feeling that if people even started considering using international sporting bodies to put preassure on, lets face it 'un Western' nations, there will be absolute uproar from alot of different groups.I can see the 'tools for regime change' heading in the Guardian opinion pages already...

I do agree though, giving these regimes enormous good press, particularly at a time like this should be looked upon by everyone with disgust. And yet Im sure alot of people, maybe even in some cases the same people, will be even more incensed by the other 'cultural boycott' course.

Imagine if, say, the Olympics was used as a method of rewarding, for example a country like Burma, in a decade or so for their massive push towards democracy and inclusivness? Its hard to think of a more effective tool that outsiders could use to promote unity and pride within the country as it finds its feet.

Cookie_Monster

:rolleyes:

F1 is a sport, not a political statement. If they shouldn't be allowed host a race in Bahrain due to humanitarian issues then neither China or India or the US should be able to either.... They all have plenty or poverty and oppression and terrible human rights issues (either at home or caused around the world)

Load of BS, there's one reason and one reason only they should not be in Bahrain, because it's a ****ing awful track

Cork boy 55

F1 + all motor sports should be banned ASAP anyway because of

(a) carbon footprint
(b) wasting OIL
(c) boring

Disgraceful waste of resoucres.

RMD

Cork boy 55 wrote: »

F1 + all motor sports should be banned ASAP anyway because of

(a) carbon footprint
(b) wasting OIL
(c) boring

Disgraceful waste of resoucres.

An incredibly stupid logic. Maybe we should close football stadiums too, those 10's of thousands of people going to watch also leave a large carbon footprint and waste a lot of oil too for something they could watch on tv eh?

Sports and politics should remain separate, withdrawing the F1 race from Bahrain wont improve anything for the people there. There'll be a bit of commotion in the media for a week or 2 and that's about it, life will go back to normal there.

p1akuw47h5r3it

Jonny7 wrote: »

In some cases, large sporting events cannot but have political implications.

I guess this line sums it up tbh. However I think sporting bodies should do everything they can do to un-politicize sporting events. They wont always succeed but they should at least try.

I also believe the Olympics is a bit of a special case also due to it's history.

p1akuw47h5r3it

Cork boy 55 wrote: »

F1 + all motor sports should be banned ASAP anyway because of

(a) carbon footprint
(b) wasting OIL
(c) boring

Disgraceful waste of resoucres.

Steps are being taken to reduce the carbon foot print of F1

The teams by there oil therefore it isn't a waste as they own it and can use it as they want.

It's boring in your opinion, but as F1 is one of the most popular sports in the world a lot of people think otherwise.

It's not a waste of resources. Not only is F1 exciting but it's technology also finds it's way to commercial cars making them safer for example, so actually has a benefit for the "ordinary" person.

here's a decent article: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-10-25/news/30320319_1_martin-whitmarsh-carbon-fibre-mclaren-f1