11th April 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

VIGILANTE VIOLENCE
Violence on the rise in Bahrain as a vigilante group attack and loot a shop owned by a Shiite businessman: Bahrain violence grows with mob attacks Mobs with iron rods and sticks ransacked a supermarket belonging to a major Shiite-owned business group Wednesday, a company ofcial said, as part of a spike in violence in the Gulf nation in retaliation for a bomb attack on police. The attack appeared linked to a wave of reprisals and intimidation by suspected Sunni groups angered by the 14-month-old uprising by Bahrain's Shiite majority seeking to weaken the powers of the kingdom's Sunni monarchy. Read More More:
The Muslim News Witnesses: Bahrain violence grows with mob attacks | Deseret News Bahrain investigating attack on police - UPI.com Bahrain mob violence spiking after police bombing - 4/11/2012 10:37:19 AM | Newser Bahrain violence grows with mob attacks | GoErie.com/Erie Times-News Angry Bahrainis attack Shia villages - World News | IOL News | IOL.co.za Bahrain violence grows with mob attacks | NewsOK.com Clashes mar lead-up to Grand Prix Violence grows with Bahrain mob attacks | Kuwait Times

US STATEMENT ON THE LATEST FROM BAHRAIN

White House condemns the violence: U.S. condemns violence in Bahrain, urges reforms The United States on Wednesday urged a halt to violence by all sides in Bahrain and called on the Gulf state's rulers to redouble efforts to implement promised political reforms. The White House also expressed concern for the well-being of a jailed pro-democracy protest leader, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who is on a two-month-old hunger strike, and pressed Bahrain to "consider urgently all available options to resolve his case." Read More More:
U.S. condemns violence in Bahrain, urges reforms - chicagotribune.com U.S. condemns violence in Bahrain, urges reforms - AlertNet US condemns violence in Bahrain - World News | IOL News | IOL.co.za US condemns Bahrain violence | SBS World News AFP: White House condemns Bahrain violence

ABDULHADI ALKHAWAJA
More from the case of Abdulhadi Alkhawaja Bahraini prisoner 'weak but conscious': Denmark A jailed activist who has been on hunger strike in a Bahrain prison for the last two months is weak but still conscious, a top Danish diplomat said Wednesday. Read More

More:
Bahrain says Al Khawaja is fed uids and not in critical state - The National www.middleeastvoices.com/2012/04/if-bahrains-al-khawaja-dies-from-hunger-strike-who-is-to-blame-50992/ Bahraini prisoner 'weak but conscious': Denmark - FRANCE 24 Fears Of Organ Failure For Hunger Strike Prisoner : NPR Bahraini Activist On Hunger Strike For Eight Weeks : NPR Lebanon news - NOW Lebanon -Hungry for freedom, Bahraini activist nears death Denmark in fresh pleas for hunger striker release - Politics & Economics - ArabianBusiness.com Free Abdulhadi Alkhawaja | Index on Censorship

EUobserver.com / Headline News / Bahrain hunger striker prompts EU response Jailed Bahraini Activist's Life In Danger As Hunger-strike Enters 64th Day Medical report shows Bahraini hunger striker's condition deteriorated - People's Daily Online Bahrain refutes Danish Premier's comments Delay over Bahrain hunger strike could be 'disastrous' says Amnesty | Ekklesia Ecclestone steps into controversy of Bahrain's F1 hunger striker - Middle East, World News - Independent.ie

FORMULA 1
Still many doubts if the GP will take place: Ecclestone still unsure about Bahrain Bernie Ecclestone is refusing to say whether the Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead later this month. A number of teams are reportedly considering pulling out due to concerns over safety following unrest in the kingdom. The head of the sport's governing body has said they would be in breach of contract. Read More More:
Bahrain Grand Prix expected to be called off - Latest Motorsport News - Keep up with Newstalk ZB Bahrain Grand Prix expected to be called off - Yahoo! New Zealand Sport Video: Bernie Ecclestone 'unsure' if Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead - Telegraph Fresh doubt cast over Bahrain GP / Sport / Home - Morning Star Motorhead: To go or not go to Bahrain? - Yahoo! Eurosport Formula 1 Teams Expect Bahrain Grand Prix To Be Cancelled Play the Game: Tension in Bahrain might lead to cancellation of the Formula One Grand Prix F1 teams expect Bahrain GP cancellation? - Sports Mole

Lots of confusion over who should make the decision F1 teams insist any decision on Bahrain Grand Prix rests with the FIA The Formula One Teams' Association (Fota) has responded to comments by Bernie Ecclestone, implying that it was up to the teams to decide whether to attend the Bahrain Grand Prix, by unequivocally stating that it was a decision for motor sport's governing body, the FIA. The statement from Fota read: "There's been some media speculation recently to the effect the teams may seek to cancel this year's Bahrain Grand Prix. That wouldn't be possible. Teams are unable to cancel grands prix. Read More More:
FIA told to decide Bahrain outcome - Other Sports, Sport - Herald.ie FOTA: Bahrain decision rests with FIA | Setanta Formula One: Bahrain Grand Prix decision in hands of FIA, teams say - Sport - Scotsman.com www.theprovince.com/sports/autoracing/6440896/story.html F1 teams, FIA battle over Bahrain stop AGI.it - FOTA: decision by the FIA and not the teams on Bahrain GP The Island Dont ask us say Formula One teams on Bahrain race decision The Score Lotus angry over Bahrain organisers for publishing condential statements Formula 1 news | bettor.com pitpass - Ecclestone warns teams Bernie Ecclestone tells F1 teams to pay up or shut up over Bahrain F1 chiefs powerless to force teams to Bahrain - timesofmalta.com Lotus unhappy with Bahrain organisers over published quotes | Bahrain Grand Prix | Formula 1 news, live F1 | ESPN F1 Bernie Ecclestone: Teams are presumably happy about 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix Formula 1 news | bettor.com F1 teams principals likely to back out of 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix Formula 1 news | bettor.com Bernie Ecclestone: No team can be forced to go to 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix Formula 1 news | bettor.com

Still some quarters remaining in favour of the GP: Don't put the brakes on Bahrain! Despite the protests, motor racing must carry on... Organisers of next week's Bahrain Grand Prix are making a last-ditch effort to persuade Formula One teams that the race is safe to go ahead despite civil unrest. As talks continue in Shanghai at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix, Sportsmail's Jonathan McEvoy argues that Bahrain should get the green light. Read More More:
Former Met man backs Bahrain GP (From York Press) FIA reassured Bahrain GP will be safe - Yahoo! Eurosport Bahrain Grand Prix: F1 must carry on despite protests | Mail Online Sebastian Vettel ready to race in Bahrain despite growing controversy - Mirror Online Bahrain determined Grand Prix will go on despite turmoil | Reuters F1 teams 'will not pull out of Bahrain GP' | Sports - Home Bahrain condemns 'scaremongering' over F1 - Rediff.com Sports Bahrain Grand Prix chairman Zayed Al Zayani defends the race Formula 1 news | bettor.com Bahrain Grand Prix chief blasts 'scaremongers' as security threat continues to worry Formula One teams - Telegraph F1 : Bahrain circuit responds to media speculation over 2012 Formula 1 Grand Prix Bahrain condemns 'scaremongering' over F1 race | Reuters Bahrain insists Grand Prix will go ahead despite mounting violence - Middle East - World - The Independent

But despite Bahrain claims, still lots of doubt in media: Bahrain Grand Prix should not proceed High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. Sir, As you report, there is opposition from within Bahrain to the Formula One motor race going ahead as scheduled at the end of next week (Bahrain youth group targets Grand Prix, April 9). From outside Bahrain, we would agree that the political, security and human rights context in Bahrain today all militate against this high-prole, protable business and sporting event going ahead in a business as usual way: political freedoms deserve the support of business too. Read More More:
A Question of Human Rights: Keeping the F1 Racing Series Out of Bahrain Bahrain Grand Prix 2012: Damon Hill Says Formula One Should Reconsider | Middle East Voices | Arab Spring News World News - Bahrain Grand Prix: For Formula One racing, politics is always in pole position Labour MP Richard Burden joins in on the Bahrain debate Formula 1 news | bettor.com Why Hasn't Formula 1 Canceled Bahrain Grand Prix? Fan's Opinion - Yahoo! Sports

General articles on F1
Formula One brings new focus to Bahrain protests | GlobalPost Bahrain activists call on BBC and Sky to boycott Formula One race | World news | The Guardian

GENERAL
Other general articles on Bahrain: Prominent Bahraini activist blocked from entering Egypt A Cairo airport ofcial says a prominent Bahraini activist has been barred from entering Egypt upon the request of a security agency. Nabeel Rajab has been documenting human rights abuses in Bahrain during the island kingdoms 14-month revolt by its Shiite majority that seeks greater rights from Sunni rulers. Read More More:
Human rights groups press Obama on Bahrain | The Cable Lebanon news - NOW Lebanon -Jumblatt calls for dialogue between Bahraini authorities and opposition Jumblat Stresses Need for Dialogue between State, Opposition to End Bahrain Crisis Naharnet