The human rights group Amnesty International says Rwanda's planned Formula 1 race is a "sportswashing prize," the BBC and Reuters reported.

"A 10-year Grand Prix 'presented by Visit Rwanda' is a sportswashing prize for the Rwandan authorities," said Felix Jakens, head of campaigns for Amnesty International UK, according to both outlets.

Sportswashing means hosting sporting events to improve a country's reputation around the world, the BBC said.

"Rwanda's authorities are prolific in arbitrary detention, torture and the repression of free speech – these are abuses at home," Jakens said in a written response, Reuters reported.

Formula 1 defended the deal. A spokesperson said the sport had "the opportunity to inspire and bring the passion of F1 to 100 million people across Africa and sport can be a positive force for good," both outlets reported.

Jakens said those words "ring hollow," according to the BBC. "It should use its influence with the Rwandan authorities to push for change, rather than lend its brand to a PR exercise," he said, both outlets reported.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, the sport's governing body, dismissed the criticism when Rwanda was bidding for the race. "When people cannot get what they want, they always blame it on sportswashing," he told BBC Sport Africa. "I honestly don't care about what they say."

Human Rights Watch has said that space for free speech and political freedom is shrinking in Rwanda, the BBC reported. Rwanda's neighbor, the Democratic Republic of Congo, has also filed a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of breaking several international treaties, the BBC said.

Rwanda's government has rejected such claims before. Its chief tourism officer, Irene Murerwa, called them "a distraction" from the country's achievements, the BBC said. The government did not immediately respond to Reuters.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said the race would change "how Africa is perceived in the world of sport," Reuters reported.

What we know: Amnesty says the race helps Rwanda hide abuses, and F1 disagrees.
What we don't: Whether F1 will raise human rights with Rwanda.