The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird) urged Formula One's governing body on Tuesday to allow seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton and other drivers to speak freely about "political" issues.
The governing FIA updated its International Sporting Code last December with a clause requiring prior written permission for drivers to make or display "political, religious and personal statements or comments".
Mercedes' Hamilton, the sport's all-time most successful driver, has used his profile and platform to address human rights abuses and racial injustice around the world.
"This move appears to be a reaction to drivers, in particular Lewis Hamilton, raising their concerns about the locations chosen for F1 races, including the human rights records of host countries, and making powerful interventions where your own organisation has been silent," Bird director Sayed Alwadaei wrote in a letter to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem on Tuesday.
The season starts in Bahrain on March 5 after pre-season testing there.
The Middle East has four races this year in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The FIA has said the update is merely aligned with "the political neutrality of sport", but Alwadaei said it appeared to target Hamilton.
"We are saying to Mohammed Ben Sulayem this policy is wrong and must be reversed immediately," he said.
Hamilton's Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff recently told reporters the rule change might not be such a big deal in the end.
"We need to see how this pans out," said the Austrian.
"I have no doubt Mohammed and the FIA mean well to achieve the right things. It's about aligning that with the drivers who have been more outspoken in the past.
"I know when Mohammed has spoken to Lewis it's ended up in a positive conversation. I have no doubt once people sit at the table together, things will not appear as harsh as when they are being written down in the off-season."
Bahrain rights group wants Hamilton and other F1 drivers to speak up about political issues
Image: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Christian Dior
The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird) urged Formula One's governing body on Tuesday to allow seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton and other drivers to speak freely about "political" issues.
The governing FIA updated its International Sporting Code last December with a clause requiring prior written permission for drivers to make or display "political, religious and personal statements or comments".
Mercedes' Hamilton, the sport's all-time most successful driver, has used his profile and platform to address human rights abuses and racial injustice around the world.
"This move appears to be a reaction to drivers, in particular Lewis Hamilton, raising their concerns about the locations chosen for F1 races, including the human rights records of host countries, and making powerful interventions where your own organisation has been silent," Bird director Sayed Alwadaei wrote in a letter to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem on Tuesday.
The season starts in Bahrain on March 5 after pre-season testing there.
The Middle East has four races this year in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The FIA has said the update is merely aligned with "the political neutrality of sport", but Alwadaei said it appeared to target Hamilton.
"We are saying to Mohammed Ben Sulayem this policy is wrong and must be reversed immediately," he said.
Hamilton's Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff recently told reporters the rule change might not be such a big deal in the end.
"We need to see how this pans out," said the Austrian.
"I have no doubt Mohammed and the FIA mean well to achieve the right things. It's about aligning that with the drivers who have been more outspoken in the past.
"I know when Mohammed has spoken to Lewis it's ended up in a positive conversation. I have no doubt once people sit at the table together, things will not appear as harsh as when they are being written down in the off-season."
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