Bahrain F1 To Reinstate Dismissed Employees

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – The chief executive of the Bahrain International Circuit says Grand Prix officials will reinstate employees who have been purged from jobs as part of crackdown on dissent.

Sheik Salman bin Isa Al-Khalifa says the decision is “an important initiative towards national reconciliation and unity” in the Gulf kingdom that has been roiled by opposition protests and government crackdowns since February.

Sheik Salman’s statement was posted on the Bahrain Grand Prix website Wednesday. It does not say how many circuit employees were dismissed for their alleged role in Shiite-led protests against
Sunni rulers.

Bahrain’s 2011 season-opening race was canceled due to political unrest. This year’s race is the fourth of the season on April 22.