'Thanks Australia': Detained refugee footballer says support keeps him strong

A Melbourne-based refugee football player being detained in Thailand says he is staying strong because of a groundswell of support from his adopted nation.

Detained Melbourne-based refugee Hakeem al-Araibi has thanked Australia for supporting him as he fears deportation from Thailand to his native Bahrain.

Detained Melbourne-based refugee Hakeem al-Araibi is facing deportation from Thailand to his native Bahrain. Source: AAP

Detained Melbourne-based refugee Hakeem al-Araibi has thanked Australia for supporting him as he fears deportation from Thailand to his native Bahrain.

The semi-professional football player is being held indefinitely in Bangkok after being arrested over an incorrectly issued Interpol Red Notice last month.

The Australian permanent resident was in Thailand for his first overseas holiday with his wife since fleeing Bahrain in 2014 in fear for his safety.
Hakeem al-Araibi
Thai prison guards lead Hakeem al-Araibi, centre from a court house in Bangkok Source: AAP
Refugees are not supposed to be issued with Interpol Red notices requested by the country from which they have fled.

Thailand would be in breach of international law if it proceeds with extraditing him.

But his detention could be prolonged for months as he awaits a Thai court decision on whether or not to extradite him.

In a hand-written letter sent to his soccer club in Melbourne, Pascoe Vale, Mr al-Araibi said he loves his wife "so much" and he is "strong" because of his adopted country's support.

"Thanks Australia for help (sic) me," he wrote.
Supporters of Hakeem al-Araibi rallied this week, demanding the Australian government do more to free him.
Supporters of Hakeem al-Araibi rallied this week, demanding the Australian government do more to free him. Source: AAP
Supporters of Mr al-Araibi gathered outside the Australian Federal Police headquarters on Wednesday calling for his immediate release.

Following the rally, Refugee Action Collective's Chris Breen said the Australian government needed to reinvigorate its efforts in support of Mr al-Araibi's.

"Minister Dutton has not spelt out the legal reasons he claims prevent him granting Hakeem citizenship," Mr Breen said.
The Melbourne-based football player says he is staying strong because of a groundswell of support.
The Melbourne-based football player says he is staying strong because of a groundswell of support. Source: pvfc.com.au
"Granting Hakeem citizenship could be an important stepping up of the advocacy of the Australian government for Hakeem's freedom."

The footballer's lawyers are demanding Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton grant him emergency Australian citizenship in hope it would increase his prospects of flying back to Victoria.

Mr al-Araibi's visa allows him to remain in Australia indefinitely and to travel to and from the country, so long as he does not travel to Bahrain.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has called for his immediate release and safe return to Australia, raising his case with Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai.

But it was revealed that Australia's National Interpol Bureau tipped off Thailand about Mr al-Araibi's arrival in the country before he arrived.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne (right) has called for his immediate release and safe return to Australia,
Foreign Minister Marise Payne (right) has called for his immediate release and safe return to Australia, Source: AFP
Interpol's boss Juergen Stock defended the organisation's warrant alert system from Paris on Wednesday.

Greens Senator Nick McKim says the federal government needs to do more, considering it was an "error by Australian authorities" that saw him imprisoned.

"Will the government do the right thing and #SaveHakeem?," he tweeted.

In 2014, Mr al-Araibi was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for allegedly vandalising a police station in Bahrain.
A former member of the Bahrain national football team, he says he was overseas playing in a televised match when the alleged incident occurred.

Mr al-Araibi has been openly critical of the Bahraini government, speaking about an incident where he was allegedly tortured by authorities in 2012.


Share
3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: SBS News


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
'Thanks Australia': Detained refugee footballer says support keeps him strong | SBS News