King Hamad shuts down F1 with attack on Drivers

Bahrain paving the way for Formula One Race by imprisoning Car Racing Champion Mohamed AlKhunaizi
11 January 2012 – BCHR

Athletes are still taken to prison for exercising legitimate rights

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights condemns the continuing arrests and unfair trials against hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain due to their exercise of legitimate rights like freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. This includes Bahraini car racing champion Mohammed AlKhunaizi, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment just a few days after the confirmation of the placement of Bahrain in the Formula One race calendar for 2012.

On December 13, 2011, the Criminal Court in Bahrain ruled against 40 year old car racing champion Mohamed AlKhunaizi with two years imprisonment on charges of illegal gathering and inciting hatred against the regime. These charges are ones which the military prosecutor and later the public prosecution did not stop pressing against the majority, if not all, of the hundreds of pro-democracy detainees. This goes in conflict with the essence of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Mohammed AlKhunaizi is a professional speed car racer since 1998, and also the founder and team leader of “Khunaizi Racing Team”. Heis winner of several local and international tournaments and has achieved unique records in the Middle East. He also runs a special garage for race car maintenance, and he is one of founders of the Bahrain Automobile Club. Furthermore, he is a father of two children. …more