Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel may have won the Bahrain Grand Prix held last Sunday, but there was no winner in the main event; a human rights battle between the ruling Al Khalifa family and protesters on the streets over competing visions of Bahrain.
Masked protesters with petrol bombs and moltovs faced off nightly against riot police in armored vehicles, armed with batons, tear gas, sound bombs and guns firing birdshot. At least one protester was found dead on a rooftop after a clash.
Bahraini human right activists and protestors denounced the Grand Prix as a lavish stunt by a government that crushed Arab Spring protests last year and remains out of touch with popular demand for change.
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The government consistently blamed the activists for exaggerating the unrest and sabotaging the country’s image.
“In terms of the public relations battle it’s been a loss for government. But no one won overall – I think it has added to the existing divisions,” said Jane Kinninmont, an analyst at London’s Chatham House think tank.
“The opposition is angrier about deaths and beatings, while the pro-government camp is upset that the protesters hold up economic development and shocked at the media coverage.”
Below are few tweets summarizing
This must be the photo of the day. Huge Cloud of Black Smoke in #Bahrain as a protest against #F1 twitter.com/Almakna/status…
— Mohamed (@Almakna) April 22, 2012
I hear one of the #F1 drivers has said “I cant wait to be on the circuit, concentrating on what really matters” #Bahrain — angry arabiya (@angryarabiya) April 21, 2012
#Bahrain is now on front page of UK newspapers. Thanks to #F1. Be careful what you wish for – you’ll get it: bit.ly/I2ELGX — Shadi Hamid (@shadihamid) April 21, 2012
Thousands of people try to reach the highway to #F1 track but were attacked with teargas and Budaya highway were blocked #Bahrain
— Nabeel Rajab (@NABEELRAJAB) April 20, 2012
I am a big #F1 fan. I never miss a race. But I will not be watching the #Bahrain Grand Prix in solidarity with the people of Bahrain.
— David F.K. Mpanga (@dfkm1970) April 20, 2012
Funeral of a Bahraini Protester Killed During Formula One: youtu.be/NoJQyTJlhQk #F1 #GP #Bahrain
— Nabeel Rajab (@NABEELRAJAB) April 24, 2012
Inputs from Reuters
