King Hamd scams suspended F1 employees with offer to return for hush money

Sacked Bahrain F1 staff stay out
20 January, 2012 – Bill Law – BBC

The row over 29 sacked Formula 1 employees deepened on Thursday when it emerged that most have yet to return to work.

The workers were fired for allegedly participating in protests against the government of King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Out of 29 who lost their jobs, only three have come back.

Twelve others who were asked to return have refused, saying that the terms of a new contract are unfair. They say the contract fails to restore lost pay and benefits. They are also being asked to drop cases brought for unfair dismissal.

The 29 were among more than 1,600 Bahrainis summarily dismissed from their jobs last year in both the private and public sectors.

In a bid to defuse tensions, King Hamad issued a royal decree last week instructing that all those who had been sacked be allowed to return to work.

The decree came in the wake of a report late last year by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).
The Crown Prince of Bahrain is said to be a huge fan of Formula One The Crown Prince of Bahrain is said to be a huge fan of Formula 1

The king had ordered the independent investigation after the violent suppression of protests by security forces left more than 50 people dead in the tiny Gulf state.

Damning verdict

Chaired by the distinguished Egyptian lawyer, Professor Cherif Bassiouni, the report proved to be a damning indictment of King Hamad’s government.

Mr Bassiouni documented numerous human rights abuses and systematic torture of detainees in February and March.

His report also examined the cases of employees who were sacked for allegedly supporting pro-democracy protests. Nearly all of those affected were Shia Muslims.

Bahrain has a Shia majority population but is ruled over by a Sunni Muslim family, the Al Khalifa. The Shia community has long complained of discrimination at the hands of the Al Khalifa. …more