- Inmates write 44 on clothes as show of support for Briton
- Human rights groups want F1 to make difference in Bahrain
Lewis Hamilton has proved to be an inspiration for prisoners in Bahrain after demanding last year that Formula One takes responsibility for human rights issues in the countries it visits, with his car number, 44, being adopted by some inmates.
F1 begins its new season this weekend in Bahrain, a country strongly criticised for abuse by human rights organisations. On Monday, Ali Alhajee, a prisoner in Bahrain, wrote to Hamilton explaining how the seven-times champion had made a difference. Alhajee explained that the political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Bahrain’s Jau prison had previously boycotted watching F1 because of its role in sportswashing the regime. Hamilton’s outspoken stance on human rights and his support last year for some political prisoners who wrote to him from Bahrain has changed their attitude.