Organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix have defended the Gulf kingdom after human rights groups urged Formula One to boycott this year's race, saying that the government had acted to show respect for human rights.
The 2012 Bahrain race, scheduled for April 22nd, has predictably become a political battleground.
The 2011 event was eventually cancelled after political protests in the capital were met with violent action from government forces.
This week, prominent human rights campaigners have called for the sport to boycott the country, rather than offer credibility for the current government.
One suggested that the situation in Bahrain remained "unstable and polarised".
But the Bahrain GP organisers have now claimed in a statement that the government has reacted to claims of human rights abuses, and that the race was vital for the country's future.
"Last year, The King of Bahrain commissioned an independent report into alleged human rights abuses, the findings of which were published in November," a spokesman explained on Monday.
"The report found evidence of human rights violations and made certain general and specific recommendations.
"The Government has fully acknowledged the findings of the report and is acting swiftly and convincingly on the recommendations."
He went on: "The Bahrain Grand Prix forms a fundamental part of the local economy.
"It is supported by an overwhelming majority of people from all sections of society in Bahrain and represents a symbol of national unity.
"The independent report was a milestone for Bahrain and we will now work tirelessly to ensure that the race is a great success."
The sport was roundly criticised for their handling of the Bahrain GP's cancellation last year, with the FIA initially re-instating the race before the organisers were forced to cancel it.
Bernie Ecclestone recently insisted that the 2012 race would go ahead, saying: "We'll be there, unless something terrible happens to stop us."
The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry delivered a report into the government’s handling of the uprising last November.
The report claimed that government forces had responded in an "excessive manner" to protesters, and added that it had occasionally been "unnecessary, disproportionate, and indiscriminate".
However, human rights groups have criticised the BICI report, conducted by a body established by the ruling powers in Bahrain.
Nabeel Rajab of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights said that he had reason to "seriously question the legitimacy of this commission and its ultimate findings" in a letter to the BICI last year.
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