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Human rights

Formula One Under Fire for Association with Saudi Arabian "Sportswashing"

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The human rights group Reprieve is demanding Formula One ends its association with Saudi Arabian "sportswashing" after the family of a teenager sentenced to death wrote to Lewis Hamilton pleading with him to speak out on their son's behalf. Abdullah al-Howaiti, a 19-year-old arrested at 14, has been subjected to torture and abuse by Saudi authorities, with his family citing CCTV evidence and witness statements that he was nowhere near the crime scene. In January, UN experts classified Saudi Arabia's violations of international law as potentially "crimes against humanity," including the execution of minors. Despite F1's presence in Saudi Arabia, the sport's CEO, Stefano Domenicali, has argued that it can "shine a spotlight" on human rights abuses.

Key Takeaways:

  • The family of Abdullah al-Howaiti, a 19-year-old sentenced to death at 17, has written to Lewis Hamilton pleading with him to speak out on their son's behalf, citing torture and abuse by Saudi authorities.
  • In January, UN experts classified Saudi Arabia's violations of international law as potentially "crimes against humanity," including the execution of minors.
  • The Reprieve director, Maya Foa, has dismissed F1's argument that it can "shine a spotlight" on human rights abuses, stating that F1's presence in Saudi Arabia is "sportswashing" that brings legitimacy to the regime.
  • F1's CEO, Stefano Domenicali, has stated that F1 takes its responsibilities on human rights seriously and sets high ethical standards for its counterparties and supply chain.
  • Saudi Arabia's supreme court overturned Abdullah al-Howaiti's original death sentence in 2019, but he was once more sentenced to death this month.
  • The UN high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, condemned the executions and reported that 41 of the 81 convicts were Muslims from the Shia minority who had taken part in anti-government protests.
  • The United Nations' Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued a damning assessment of Abdullah al-Howaiti's case, stating serious doubts over the legitimacy of his trial and a systemic problem with arbitrary detention in Saudi Arabia.

Statistics:

  • 81 executions were carried out in Saudi Arabia in a single day, with 41 of the convicts being Muslims from the Shia minority who had taken part in anti-government protests.
  • Abdullah al-Howaiti was arrested at 14 and has been subjected to torture and abuse by Saudi authorities.
  • 41 of the 81 convicts in the mass execution were Muslims from the Shia minority.
  • Saudi Arabia's supreme court overturned Abdullah al-Howaiti's original death sentence in 2019, but he was once more sentenced to death this month.

Sources:

  • Reprieve, "Formula One Must End Its Association with Saudi Arabian Sportswashing"
  • The Guardian, "Formula One's Saudi Arabian grand prix: a licence to sportswash?"
  • United Nations, "Working Group on Arbitrary Detention"
  • The Guardian, "UN condemns Saudi Arabia's mass execution of Shia protesters"
  • Formula One, "F1's stance on human rights"
  • United Nations, "Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" (A/HRC/49/46)

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