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"The Bahraini government wants to bask in the positive international publicity it anticipates receiving through the Formula One motor race going ahead."
"Yet all the signs are that the government is likely to intensify its harsh clampdown on local activists before and during the Grand Prix."
Escalated Crackdowns Ahead of F1
On April 18, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) said:
"....Bahraini authorities have escalated their violent crackdown against pro-democracy protesters and human rights activists.""Villages and houses have been attacked continuously for the past few days. Pre-dawn house raids are being conducted and dozens of protesters are either arrested or wanted for arrest."
"As F1 is approaching, human rights activists in Bahrain Center for human rights are being targeted with arrests and prosecution, in an effort to undermine thier work in reporting the violence against protesters during the F1."
On April 15, BCHR's Sayed Yousif Al Mahafdha and two Human Rights Watch (HRW) members (Tom Malinowski and Nadim Houry) were attacked and arrested while observing a peaceful protest. They were held, harassed, interrogated, and released.
According to Al Mahafdha, when protesters reached the main road, riot police confronted them violently. Tear gas and stun grenades were used. Al Mahafdha took shelter in a nearby home. Police stormed it. They pepper-sprayed and beat those inside.
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