17th April 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

FOREIGN CONDEMNATION OF BAHRAIN
Amnesty report on Bahrain:
Amnesty report: Bahrain reforms are 'awed,' 'inadequate' Human rights reforms in Bahrain are inadequate and have failed to provide justice for victims in the aftermath of last year's government crackdown on opposition protesters, Amnesty International said in a report Tuesday. "The authorities are trying to portray the country as being on the road to reform, but we continue to receive reports of torture and use of unnecessary and excessive force against protests," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, the group's Middle East and North Africa deputy director. "Their reforms have only scratched the surface. Read More More:
Rights violations continue in Bahrain, says Amnesty - Tehran Times Amnesty: 'rights crisis' in Bahrain despite reform pledge | GlobalPost Amnesty slams Bahrain reforms as 'inadequate' - Politics & Economics - ArabianBusiness.com Amnesty Report Slams Bahrain for Human Rights Abuses Amnesty unhappy with F1 in Bahrain - Motoring News - RAC Torture and Excessive Force Against Protestors Continue in Bahrain: Amnesty - International Business Times Bahrain Fails to Give Justice to Protesters, Amnesty Says - International Business Times Amnesty report: Bahrain reforms are 'awed,' 'inadequate' This Just In - CNN.com Blogs Angola Press - International - Human rights 'crisis' in Bahrain despite reform pledge Human rights crisis in Bahrain 'not over' - Channel 4 News Torture and other human rights abuses continuing in Bahrain Amnesty report TheJournal.ie Dallasblog.com, the Dallas, Texas news blog and Dallas, Texas information source for the DFW Metroplex. - DALLAS BLOG - Amnesty Sparks Arab Spring in Bahrain Amnesty blasts Bahrain's reform efforts - UPI.com F1: Bahrain 'has failed to deliver on political reform' - Telegraph

EU on Al Khawaja
EU urges Bahrain to save hunger-strike jailed activist EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday urged Bahrain to save a jailed activist on hunger strike whose health is now "a matter of the utmost urgency." A day after protesters climbed onto the roof of the Bahraini embassy in London in support of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, Ashton said there was "serious and profound concern" in the European Union about the case. Read More More:
Life of hunger-striking Bahraini activist at risk, EU warns | EUROPE ONLINE EU Urges Bahrain to Save Hunger-Strike Jailed Activist Naharnet EU Concerned Over Health Of Jailed Bahraini Activist On Hunger Strike DI-VE - News Details

UK Labour Party on Bahrain:

Bahrain Grand Prix Should Be Cancelled Says Labour Formula One chiefs have been urged by Labour to cancel this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix amid continued clashes between police and anti-government protesters. Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said that proceeding with the event would "send the wrong signal". Read More

FORMULA 1
Former MP Dr. Jassim Husain warns of protests during F1
Bahrain Grand Prix 2012: thousands march in peaceful protest as former politician admits to fears over casualties Three to four thousand people, including women and children, marched peacefully through the village of Al Dair, near the country's airport, for about an hour waving placards reading Down with Hamad [the King] and We want Freedom not Formula. While the atmosphere at the protest remained calm and jovial, reports of an unscheduled gathering in Sitra later this evening are circulating. Read More More:
Husain reveals Bahrain fears - News - Grantham Journal icNorthWales - Fear of casualties at F1 protests Bahrain Grand Prix: Warning over 'casualties' | Mail Online

With lots of journalists in Bahrain for the F1 there has been lots of articles from sports journalists on streets protests:
Teargas, petrol bombs and riot police: A different day as a Grand Prix correspondent If I was honest I expected it to be a damp squib. Protests normally promise much and deliver little. And there was a chance we might not have even found the demonstration site at Salmabad at all - it was 17 kilometres north of the Bahrain Grand Prix track and way outside the capital Manama. Read More More:
Protesters against Bahrain race - News - Grantham Journal Bahrain Grand Prix: How the Mirror's Byron Young escaped the violence in Salmabad - Byron Young - Mirror Online Bahrain protests set to intensify - National Sport - Rutland and Stamford Mercury Thousands protest ahead of F1 race in Bahrain | ABS-CBN News BAHRAIN PROTESTS SET TO INTENSIFY | Sporting Life | Athletics, Cycling, Rallying, MotoGP Bahrain Grand Prix 2012: 'no Formula One over our blood' cry protesters ahead of weekend's race - Telegraph Call for opposition protests ahead of Grand Prix F1 - CNN Mix 96 - News - Bahrain Violence: Calls For F1 Race To Be Axed Formula 1 | Fresh protests erupt ahead of Bahrain GP | ESPNSTAR.com

Many still doubting the F1 amid violations:

Formula 1's moral dilemma in Bahrain Is it safe for Formula 1 to return to Bahrain this weekend? That's the question the organisation was pondering for days last week before taking the plunge and going ahead. But it's the wrong question. The likelihood that anyone taking part in, or going to watch, the Formula 1 race will be in danger from protests by Bahrain's Shia majority is very, very small. Read More More:
F1: Bahrain Reforms Questioned as Grand Prix Concerns Grow | The Jakarta Globe Lebanon news - NOW Lebanon -Race to repression Bahrain Reforms Inadequate Ahead of Grand Prix - By Mary Casey and Jennifer Parker | The Middle East Channel Bahrain Grand Prix pressure mounts on Bernie Ecclestone Formula 1 news | bettor.com Tension mounts as Formula One heads to Bahrain - Bahrain Grand Prix | Bahrain Grand Prix | Formula 1 news, live F1 | ESPN F1 iafrica.com | motoring | formula 1 | Bahrain F1 a 'time bomb' Dazzling start dimmed by Bahrain cloud - Motor Racing - Sport - The Independent 'F1 risks sending wrong message' | Planet F1 | Formula One News The Muslim News

But Bahrain still trying to convince the world its ne:

Bahrain GP is safe, insists Zayed Al Zayani Formula One teams and drivers may be reluctant racers in Bahrain this weekend but they need not worry about their safety, according to circuit chairman Zayed Al Zayani. Speaking to Reuters before the rst members of the travelling circus arrived in the troubled Gulf kingdom on Monday, Al Zayani said the decision to go ahead with the controversial grand prix was not putting anyone at risk. Read More More:
Saudi Gazette - Bahrain F1 not putting anyone at risk, says circuit boss I trust FIA judgement Circuit boss condent Bahrain race should go ahead - F1 and Motor Sport - Yorkshire Post Bahrain GP chief assures 'nothing drastic will happen' - Indian Express Chris Gill: Nothing to see here, says Bahrain - Du Quoin, IL - Du Quoin Evening Call Bahrain Grand Prix- Seeking the positives Daniel Ricciardo blog The Bahrain Grand Prix Furore: Its Only A Race | Bahrain | mideastposts.com | News Analysis

LONDON EMBASSY
More coverage of the embassy protest in London:
Bahraini Embassy roof protest in London Two protesters have climbed on to the roof of the Bahraini Embassy in central London, days before Bahrain is due to host its most high-prole international event, the Formula One Grand Prix. There have also been violent clashes between police and protesters on the outskirts of the Bahrain capital Manama this week. Read More

Bahrain urges UK to protect their embassy in London:

Bahrain urges Britain to protect embassy Bahrain's foreign ministry has urged the British government to protect its embassy after two people climbed onto its roof through a neighbouring building. Read More More:
Bahrain: protests and solidarity|21Apr12|Socialist Worker Bahrain urges Britain to protect kingdom's embassy - KIMT.com Iowa & Minnesota Together Bahrain News Agency | The Shura Council's statement : an intrusion against our Embassy in the UK Bahrain urges Britain to protect kingdom's embassy as protest vigil stretches into 2nd day - 4/17/2012 5:14:58 AM | Newser gulfnews : Bahrain urges Britain to protect embassy Bahrain embassy protest for jailed father ahead of F1 Grand Prix - World - News - Evening Standard Bahrain Protesters Unfurl Bannar Atop of Embassy in London | Video | TheBlaze.com BBC News - Bahraini Embassy roof protest in London Staff safe at Bahrain Embassy in London Bahrain embassy in London targeted Call to protect Bahrain Embassy in London during rooftop protest - The National WRGB-TV Channel 6 News :: News - International News

OTHER ARTICLES ON BAHRAIN

Bahraini hunger striker to refuse IV uids, drink water Jailed Bahraini Shiite activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who is on a hunger strike, will refuse intravenous infusions from Wednesday and drink only water, his wife said. "Abdulhadi called and said he will refuse from dawn on Wednesday intravenous infusions and other liquids, except water," Khadija al-Moussawi told AFP. Read More

Why is John Yates working for the brutal Bahraini regime? Oh dear. What happened to John Yates? How did a suave, sophisticated, liberal British policeman, once tipped for the top job in the Metropolitan Police, end up shilling for a vicious Middle East dictator who shoots, teargasses and tortures unarmed protesters? Read More

Bahraini government 'acknowledges mistakes' A spokesman for the Bahraini Information Affairs Authority Fahad al-Binali has said that Bahrain has acknowledged its mistakes". Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said that the Bahraini ruling family "took immediate action in response to an independent report it commissioned into the crackdown on protests last year. Read More

Bahraini hardliner is VIP at London Olympics A BAHRAINI prince accused of direct involvement in the repression of pro-democracy supporters in the Gulf state is set to receive VIP treatment at the London Olympics. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamadal-Khalifa, 24, will attend the opening ceremony of the Games despite claims that he had presided over a crackdown on scores of athletes in Bahrain and had declared that anyone who deed the ruling regime had nowhere to escape. Read More

Daily protests in Bahrain amid human rights abuse claims With preparations well underway for Sunday's Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix, a leading human rights group has said torture and ill-treatment are continuing in the Gulf kingdom. Amnesty International says it has evidence of people being kept in prison for participating in peaceful anti-government protests, and that security forces are using excessive and unnecessary force against demonstrators. Read More