(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Under pressure from senior politicians and campaign groups to boycott the Bahraini Grand Prix, Britain’s Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has called the Bahraini government “stupid” for letting the race go ahead.“We believe the government were in a way really stupid to put this race on, because it is a platform for people to use for protesting,” he said.Ecclestone’s controversial comment comes amid calls by one of Britain’s most senior politicians on him to boycott the Bahraini event.Lord Avebury, Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Human Rrights Group, is calling for a ban on the F1 Grand Prix, likening the situation in Bahrain to the Apartheid South Africa where the race was cancelled in 1985 and was not resumed before the Apartheid regime was toppled.Avebury has also blasted Ecclestone for his earlier comment likening the Bahraini pro-democracy protesters to those taking part in the anti-Margaret Thatcher rallies saying the F1 boss “has forgotten about 90 deaths and 13 imprisoned activists” in the Persian Gulf country.Avebury has not been alone in making a cancellation call as the British All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy has also sent Ecclestone a letter demanding a boycott on the race in Bahrain."I think most democratic-minded people would be appalled if you allowed the Bahrain leg of the Formula 1 championship to go ahead amidst the most atrocious human rights violations," wrote Andy Slaughter, chairman of the Group.Those calling for the cancellation of the Grand Prix argue that the Bahraini regime will use it as a propaganda tool to pretend everything is fine in the country while the government continues to repress the protests.This comes as, hackers’ group Anonymous has also pledged to “wreck [Bahraini regime’s] little party again” and “shut down” the Grand Prix.“We will expose the personal data of any person who supports this race in any way. You have been warned. Once the festivities for this race begin in Bahrain, all bets are off. We call upon Bernie Eccelstone while there is still time; cancel your blood race now,” Anonymous said in a statement.Bahraini officials have said the event will be held according to the schedule on Sunday April 21. /129
source : Press TV
Saturday
20 April 2013
7:30:00 PM
411335
Under pressure from senior politicians and campaign groups to boycott the Bahraini Grand Prix, Britain’s Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has called the Bahraini government “stupid” for letting the race go ahead.