IMMAF releases statement on partnership with violent Bahrain monarchy for world championships

The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation released a statement to BloodyElbow.com on hosting the amateur MMA world championships under the patronage of a violent Gulf state monarchy. 

In a matter of weeks, over 300 combat sports athletes will descend upon the island kingdom of Bahrain for the 2017 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championships of Amateur MMA. The event takes place between November 12-19 at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Manama, Bahrain’s capital city. The tournament will mark the first MMA event of its size in the country.

Yet while the event is viewed as a mutually beneficial opportunity for all parties involved, the IMMAF is unable to avoid the controversy associated with partnering with violent Gulf State monarchies like the Al Khalifa family.

According to the IMMAF’s official website, the 2017 Amateur World Championships is being “facilitated” by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the fifth son of Bahraini ruler, King Hamad. Apart from his role as a military officer, Sheikh Khalid is the First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Honorary President of Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Association, as well as founder of the Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Mixed Martial Arts (KHK MMA) fight club.

KHK MMA was established in March 2015 and immediately gained attention by signing fighters such as former UFC champion Frankie Edgar and Khabib Nurmagomedov as representatives of the team. Under the patronage of Sheikh Khaild, all the fighters who compete under the KHK MMA banner are given a wealth of resources, including extensive medical coverage, experienced coaching staffs, and monthly stipends.

“We wholeheartedly thank His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his deep support of the sport of MMA and of IMMAF,” said IMMAF president Kerrith Brown. “We are also grateful to BMMAF President and IMMAF Board Member, Mr. Khalid Abdulaziz Al Khayat, for his backing and commitment.”

The tournament will also take place under the patronage of Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Sheikh Khalid’s older brother and president of the Bahrain Olympic Federation. Sheikh Nasser, also the Commander of Bahrain’s Royal Guard, is a far more controversial figure than his brother. He was accused of torture among other human rights abuses during the 2011 uprising in Bahrain. One victim in particular claims to have been personally tortured by Sheikh Nasser and is currently seeking the Prince’s arrest in the United Kingdom.

During the 2011 uprising, Sheikh Nasser allegedly used his position as president of various sports federations to threaten athletes who attempted to participate in the movement, and appeared on State TV to declare that “whoever calls for the fall of the regime, may a wall fall on his head… whether he is an athlete, socialite or politician, whatever he is, he will be held accountable at this time. Today is the judgment day.”

Sheikh Nasser’s involvement in sports has only increased since the failed 2011 uprising. He was present at the 2012 London Olympic Games and later founded the Bahrain Cycling Team. The 2017 IMMAF tournament is merely the latest addition to his growing sports portfolio.

The latest Human Right Watch report on Bahrain revealed deteriorating freedom of expression, torture and mistreatment of detainees, revocations of nationality, and travel bans enacted on dissidents. Despite well-documented human rights violations rampant within the Island Kingdom, sports entities such as the Formula-1 and the IMMAF continue to work with the kingdom.

The IMMAF released a statement to BloodyElbow regarding their upcoming world championships in Bahrain:

IMMAF is firmly opposed to all forms of discrimination and abuse but, as a sporting organisation, it is not within our jurisdiction to dictate the wider laws of any sovereign nation. Within our role, we continually work to ensure that there is no discrimination at our Championships or within our national federations in adherence with the principles of good governance.

To this end, Article 9 of IMMAF's Member Statutes demands that in the carrying out of their duties IMMAF Member organisations "reject all forms and means of discrimination against individuals, groups of people, organizations or countries based on ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion or politics".

Bahrain is under no sanctions or embargoes, and many international sports federations work with the country.

While Bahrain is indeed under no sanctions or embargoes, its history of violence and discrimination against its Shia-majority population is well-documented. The country’s royal family uses sports to distract from ongoing human rights violations, and present a facade of stability to those watching from abroad. The 2017 IMMAF World Championship is simply the latest example of sports diplomacy in the Middle East.