Skip to main content
Gifts from The Morning Star
Formula 1 boss urged to visit tortured human rights defender in a Bahraini prison
As the Bahrain GP gets under way this weekend, jailed political prisoner and mother of four Najah Yusuf will still be in jail for criticising the Western-backed absolute monarchy

FORMULA ONE and the FIA, motorsport’s world governing body, have been called on to visit the tortured Bahraini political prisoner Najah Yusuf in prison ahead of Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix and to use their influence in the autocratic monarchy to demand her release. 

Campaigners from the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird), Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, Transparency International, PEN International and 10 others published an open letter to the FIA president Jean Todt, highlighting the country’s abysmal human rights and press freedom violations, including against people protesting the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“The Bahraini government attaches great importance to the Bahrain Grand Prix as a glamour status symbol of progress and international prestige,” the letter states. 

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Red Devils' logo
Men’s Rugby League / 12 August 2025
12 August 2025

Fan group The 1873 issues scathing response to owners’ statement saying the club will not close

People inspect the damage at the Sheikh Radwan al-Taba UNRWA clinic following an Israeli army bombardment in Gaza City, August 6, 2025
Gaza / 6 August 2025
6 August 2025

Israeli media awash with leaks and rumours of Netanyahu’s plans to seize Gaza. Meanwhile, the unrelenting siege of Gaza continues unabated 

Demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags look on as the Ship to Gaza boat 'Handala' arrives at the port of Malmö, Sweden, May 8, 2024
Middle East / 29 July 2025
29 July 2025

Mr Smalls and 13 other Freedom Flotilla Coalition activists who tried to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza aboard the Handala ship remain in detention and on hunger strike

Similar stories
Eddie Jordan (centre) with Heinz-Harald Frentzen (left) and
Formula One / 20 March 2025
20 March 2025
Tributes paid to ‘one-of-a-kind’ Irishman who revealed cancer diagnosis in December
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Formula One / 26 January 2025
26 January 2025
Drivers with their F1 cars start for the Hungarian Formula O
Formula One / 24 January 2025
24 January 2025
World / 5 September 2024
5 September 2024