Former F1 world champion believes that the sport can head back to Bahrain with a "clear conscience" after visiting the Gulf kingdom recently, saying that while there are still "issues" in the country, changes are being made.
Last season's Bahrain Grand Prix was cancelled following a wave of violent political protests throughout the country.
The Bahrain government was criticised for their reaction to the protests, and human rights groups have insisted that the political situation is still not resolved.
Despite the GP having been rescheduled for 2012, some groups have called for Formula One to boycott the country over further alleged human rights abuses.
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights claimed a boycott would ensure that the government could not claim that the country was "back to normal", leading to concerns that F1 could legitimise a still-unpopular government.
But Hill, who visited the country with FIA president Jean Todt recently, says that having spoken to "eyewitnesses" about the progress being made, he was sure that F1 could return without concern.
"I do not like seeing people shot and brutalised," he told the Times newspaper on Wednesday.
"I was frustrated last year that Formula One did not raise its voice against what was happening. But a lot has changed there since then."
He went on: "It is clear that the situation in Bahrain is better understood and I don't think anyone would want to go back to Bahrain if there was suffering just because of a grand prix.
"I listened to a lot of people there, including eye-witnesses. I believe they are making change for the better."
He added that there were still unresolved issues in Bahrain, but said that the progress being made meant that F1 could return with a "clear conscience".
"There is no question they have issues, but every country has issues; we had riots here in the UK not so long ago," he muttered.
"This time, Formula One can go to Bahrain with a clear conscience and not just as a tool for some sort of cover-up."
Earlier this week, Bahrain GP organisers confirmed that the members of staff fired after being found to have taken part in the protests had been reinstated in their jobs.
The 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled for April 22nd.
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