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has come under fire for ignoring human rights abuses in ,Ìýjust days before the start of the 2022 season.

The President of , Stefano Domenicali, was sent a letter by theÌýBahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD)ÌýaccusingÌýthe sporting body of failing to recognise abuses in the Gulf state.

Bahrain will host the openingÌýGrand Prix race of the season this weekend.Ìý

The letter, written by Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, the director of advocacy for BIRD, criticises a recently signed contract that will seeÌýBahrain host an F1 race for the next 15 years.Ìý

The letter said F1 has "abandoned those who have been tortured and imprisoned".

"[It] directly contradicts your claim from last year that F1 takes 'violence, abuse of human rights and repression very seriously'," the letter read.

Bahrain has detained pro-democracy and other political activists since an uprising in 2011.

He further accused the Bahrain Grand Prix of contributingÌý"to the abuse and suffering of individuals, and F1 has failed to adequately use its platform to put an end to abuses or secure redress for these victims".

rejected the claims, saying that the motorsport body takes a strong interest in .Ìý

"We take our responsibilities on rights very seriously and set high ethical standards for counter-parties and those in our supply chain," a spokesperson for the sport said.Ìý

F1 recently made the decision to drop the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi from the 2022 calendar, in light of the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Alwadaei pointed to "a clear double-standard" when applied to countries in the Middle East, singling out Saudi Arabia for itsÌýrole in the war in Yemen whichÌýhas left thousands dead.Ìý

Saudi Arabia was controversially added to the calendar in 2021, and drivers will be returning at the end of March for the second race of the season.Ìý

Alwadaei called on drivers to "publicly stand up for human rights in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, including on social media platforms".

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has alreadyÌýraised concerns aboutÌýhuman rights issues inÌýsome of the countries where the sport will take place.

He was critical of the sport's decision to include Saudi Arabia in the 2021 calendarÌýand wore aÌýrainbow-coloured "pride" helmet during the race, in an effort to raise awareness of the country's poor record on LGBTQ+ rights issues.Ìý

Hamilton has previously hinted at the abuses that occur in Bahrain.Ìý

"I do think as a sport we need to do more... not just saying that we're going to do something (but) that we actually see some action taken," said the driver in 2020.Ìý

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has condemned Bahrain for its repression of free speech, use of torture and ill-treatment, abuse of the judiciary, abuse of migrant workers, and the continued use of the death penalty.Ìý

Responding to Alwadaei'sÌýletter,ÌýBahrain claimed that they had "led human rights reform in the region".

Activists say that the country still holds political prisoners.

A spokesperson for Formula 1 said that the sport was in the position to be a positive force for change.Ìý

"Sports like Formula 1 are uniquely positioned to cross borders and cultures to bring countries and communities together to share the passion and excitement of incredible competition and achievement," the statement read.Ìý