Earlier this month I went to meet with Sacha Woodward Hill, the General Counsel of the Formula One Group. Not a usual place to find a Liberal Democrat, but my campaign over the past few years against the human rights abuses in Bahrain has meant Formula One now has a role to play with the Grand Prix being held there frequently, the first time back in 2004.

Since the Arab Spring, we have witnessed a gross abuse of human rights by the Bahraini government. Civilian and military courts continue to imprison peaceful protestors, fail to hold officials guilty of torture to account and since January 2018 over 200 people have been stripped of their citizenship. Bahrain has responded with particular brutality to those protesting against the Grand Prix being held there. In 2012, Salah Abbas Habib was shot dead whilst protesting against the race.

One case I have been particularly vocal about has been the imprisonment of Najah Yusuf.

Najah, a civil servant from Bahrain, was imprisoned back in 2017 following her posting on Facebook for the Grand Prix in Bahrain to be cancelled. Since then she has faced torture, sexual abuse and been denied legal representation. Hearing about her treatment has shocked me to my core.

Both the United Nations and Amnesty International have been critical of the treatments of dissenters in Bahrain. However, by contrast the Conservative Government has remained eerily silent whilst Formula One have attempted to claim it has had nothing to do with them.

However, this simply will not wash.

F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Show all 34 1 /34 F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix The drivers paid tribute to the late FIA race director Charlie Whiting, who died the the day before the new season started. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix A flyover opens the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Bottas beat Hamilton into the first corner and never looked back. AFP/Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Home favourite Daniel Ricciardo went off within metres of the start. EPA F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Bottas took the lead at the first corner and never relinquished it. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Ricciardo had to pit at the end of the first lap with damage to his front wing. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix But the damage proved too much and Ricciardo retired soon after. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Bottas went about building a healthy gap to Hamilton. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Ferrari pitted Vettel in an attempt to fight back against Verstappen. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Bottas took victory by a healthy 21 seconds. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix The Mercedes driver was applauded into the pit lane after his victory. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Bottas finished ahead of teammate Hamilton and Red Bull's Verstappen. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Hamilton appeared happy with second despite missing out on victory. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Verstappen was delighted to take third in Red Bull's first race with the Honda engine. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Australian Grand Prix Bottas soaked up every second of his celebrations. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Saturday qualifying Valtteri Bottas was not able to live with his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton early on as the reigning world champion topped the timesheets. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Saturday qualifying Sebastian Vettel led the Ferrari charge. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Saturday qualifying Lando Norris impressed on his McLaren debut. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Saturday qualifying Red Bull's Pierre Gasly was a surprise early elimination. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Saturday qualifying Lewis Hamilton leads championship rival Sebastian Vettel. AFP/Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Saturday qualifying Christian Horner cut a concerned figure during qualifying as Red Bull struggled. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Saturday qualifying Lando Norris fininshed a credible eighth in qualifying for McLaren. AFP/Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Saturday qualifying Lewis Hamilton celebrated taking pole position for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Saturday qualifying Valtteri Bottas speaks with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton after qualifying. AFP/Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Saturday qualifying Lewis Hamilton starts the Australian Grand Prix ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel. Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Practice Melbourne's Albert Park hosts the first Grand Prix of the season. EPA F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Practice Sebastian Vettel prepares for first practice. AFP/Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Practice Lance Stroll got to grips with the new Racing Point outfit. AFP/Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Practice The Red Bulls of Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen run in formation. AP F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Practice George Russell pulls his Williams off the track with an issue. EPA F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Practice A Mercedes mechanic prepares for the arrival of one of their cars. AFP/Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Practice Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton emerges to begin the session. AFP/Getty Images F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Practice Sebastaian Vettel takes to the grass as he misses his turn-in point for Turn One. EPA F1 Australian Grand Prix 2019 in pictures Practice But he wasn't the only one as Kimi Raikkonen also went off during practice. EPA

Formula One Group were linked by the Court during Najah’s trial both in evidence and during the judgement. This is a case firmly on their doorstep and they must do the right thing. And this is exactly what I said in my meeting with Sacha Woodward Hill.

And this is the thing, it would be entirely right for them to take a stance. It has been done before – human rights abuses and sporting events are sadly not often far apart – but on occasion global players in the sporting field have done the right thing rather than turn a blind eye.

No End to Torture in Bahrain - Human Rights Watch

Equally, I also made it clear in the meeting clear that Formula One Group cannot take the Bahrainian Government’s word as true. The shocking abuse and disregard for human rights is transparent for all to see. There is no excuse, Formula One must act.

What must happen now is protestors such as Najah must be released. There must be thorough and independent investigation conducted on behalf of the Formula One Group. Once this has found similar evidence of the abuse of human rights as the United Nations did, they must unilaterally withdraw their races from Bahrain.

I intend to keep up the pressure until this is done.

The Bahrain Grand Prix has caused numerous protests since its first running in 2004 (Getty)

Whether it is making the case to the UK Government that they must maintain our commitment to human rights and democracy, making clear to the international community we regard these values as universal, or saying to Lewis Hamilton that you cannot win world titles on the back of human rights abuses without realising you have a moral responsibility, the Liberal Democrats are clear that we will not stand by and watch individuals human rights be abused.