Bahrain Cracks Down

Last year's Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain was cancelled due to street protests. This year's event is under fire from human rights activists too. F1 is very popular in the rest of the world, unlike NASCAR, and the race generates revenue and prestige for Bahrain's Sunni regime. Last Friday a boy was shot in the chest and another severely beaten during clashes with police. Thousands of demonstrators defied government and attended a funeral for an activist killed last week. Another activist, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, is reportedly near death as a result of a hunger strike. Nevertheless, F1 officials endorse the regime by continuing to back the race. Race participants are reportedly nervous about racing in Bahrain during the unrest. A Bahrain rights activist said, they [the government] has [sic] put profits and their interests before human rights." The Bahrain Center for Human Rights said the number of people killed in anti-government activity this year exceeds the number killed in all of last year. The United States continues to send military aid to the country.