The son of a person on dying row in Bahrain has once more despatched a drawing to seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, nonetheless hopeful that the British driver might help save his father’s life.
Ahead of Sunday’s season-opening F1 race in Bahrain, Ahmed proudly held up the drawing of Hamilton’s famed No. 44 Mercedes automotive alongside together with his personal phrases of hope: “ Sir Lewis, one other F1 the place my harmless father is on dying row. Please assist free him.”
The 12-year-old is the son of Mohammed Ramadhan, a former member of Bahrain’s safety forces dealing with the dying penalty.
The drawing was proven to The Associated Press by Ahmed, who was accompanied by his mom Zainab Ebrahim when he spoke throughout an interview on Thursday in Bahrain. Ahmed spoke softly as he talked about why he drew it.
“I did this drawing to encourage Lewis,” he stated. Composing himself with a deep breath, he added: “There are a lot of stories that Lewis can influence and can help change.”
Hamilton stated he hadn’t seen the drawing but, which was additionally despatched to his staff.
“But each year I receive letters from those that are suffering and all I can is try my hardest to empathize with those who face these challenges and have these tragic stories to tell,” Hamilton stated Friday on the Bahrain Grand Prix. “I think the weight of change really needs to be put on the governments and those that are in power. That’s why we’ve got to continue to utilize the platforms we have when we arrive in these countries as well, make sure they are holding serious conversations about what’s happening there.”
Ahead of Sunday’s season-opening F1 race in Bahrain, Ahmed proudly held up the drawing of Hamilton’s famed No. 44 Mercedes automotive alongside together with his personal phrases of hope: “Sir Lewis, one other F1 the place my harmless father is on dying row. Please assist free him.” (AP Photo)
Hamilton beforehand stated F1 is “duty bound” to boost consciousness on human rights the place it goes racing. But he says drivers must also push for lasting change.
“We have platforms to try to raise awareness. There are amazing organizations out there on the ground that are fighting for human rights and I support those,” Hamilton said. “But there’s a lot of work to do, the world’s a mess. We saw more displacement of refugees than ever before, not only in Ukraine, but in Syria and Yemen.”
Ahmed has beforehand drawn Hamilton’s automotive and despatched it to the star British driver, within the hope he can have an end result on his father’s future.
His father was one in every of three alleged torture victims who personally wrote to Hamilton in November 2020.
Mohammed Ramadhan detailed how he was arrested after supporting Bahrain’s pro-democracy rebellion, after which allegedly framed in a homicide case and crushed with iron bars in an effort to extract his confession.
After studying these letters Hamilton vowed to not ignore pleas to enhance human rights in Bahrain and different nations the place F1 races.
“Lewis is the best,” Ahmed stated, smiling timidly when requested what he thinks of Hamilton’s ongoing efforts. “I was very happy to hear Lewis when he said that he is willing to help those in need.”
Ahmed’s mom hopes Hamilton’s voice screams even louder to these needing to listen to it most.
“Lewis has an influence and he can talk to his friends, and he can influence the Bahraini government to reinvestigate and to talk about victims,” she stated as she sat subsequent to her son. “Maybe find justice for their cases.”
For Zainab Ebrahim and her three youngsters, visits to jail are uncommon and, as she explains wearily, so restrictive that they’re barely capable of contact even a finger on their father’s hand to really feel even the smallest reference to him.
“It’s very tough with out their father being right here. When their father was arrested, Ahmed was 4 years previous and the twins have been two,” she said. “That affected their psychology a lot. They’ve been crying a lot, feeling upset. They always ask about their father.”
Ahmed poses for {a photograph} together with his mom Zainab Ebrahim in Manama, Bahrain.
Hamilton has impressed different alleged torture survivors like Najah Yusuf and Ali AlHajee, the opposite two who wrote to Hamilton in November 2020.
AlHajee is in Jau jail, 11 kilometers (7 miles) from the observe the place Hamilton races on Sunday.
Hamilton has been trending within the jail, in a singular manner.
“Inmates began to write or draw ‘Sir 44’ or ‘Lewis 44’ on their clothes, which we would wear in support while watching the race,” AlHajee recently wrote to Hamilton. “The prisoners view you not only as a world sports champion, but as someone who is defending their human rights.”
Hamilton was moved when he examine it.
“I never in a million years thought I would be able to have this sort of impact on people, particularly in those positions, some of them with incredible stories fighting against a difficult system,” Hamilton stated. “I really try to hold serious conversations in the background, to try and improve that system for those that are currently in prison. It’s not an easy line to walk, it’s risky, it’s challenging, it’s difficult relationships. But for me what’s important is seeing a better future.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
