SYDNEY, Feb 6, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison
has ramped up pressure on Bangkok to release a refugee footballer held on a
Bahrain extradition request, as sporting authorities cancelled two events in
Thailand over his detention.
Morrison, who wrote a letter to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha in
January, said he sent a second one after being “very disturbed” by the sight
of Hakeem al-Araibi, a Bahraini refugee and Australian resident, in chains
during a court appearance Monday.
“I’ve written to him again because I was very disturbed at the appearance
of Hakeem at the hearing the other day and he was shackled,” Morrison told
Sky News Australia late Tuesday.
“And I thought that was very upsetting and I know it would have upset many
Australians. I’m respectfully reminding the Thai prime minister that
Australians feel very strongly about this. Very, very strongly.”
Araibi, who fears torture and even death if he is returned to his homeland,
was detained by Thai immigration authorities in late November after arriving
in Bangkok for a vacation with his wife.
The 25-year-old was convicted in absentia on charges of vandalising a
police station in Bahrain, but says he was out of the country playing in a
match at the time of the alleged offence.
He subsequently applied for asylum in Australia, which granted him refugee
status and residency in 2017. He had been living in Melbourne, where he plays
semi-professional football.
In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald published Tuesday, Araibi
urged Morrison to “please, please keep fighting for me, please keep working
hard on my case”.
The Australian leader’s push came as retired football players, professional
teams and fans intensify calls for Araibi’s freedom.
Governing body Football Federation Australia (FFA) on Wednesday cancelled
the under-23 men’s national team plans to hold a training camp and a friendly
game in Thailand ahead of the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in March.
“We reassessed our plans due to the ongoing detainment of Australian
footballer Hakeem al-Araibi in a Thai prison,” head coach Graham Arnold said
in a statement, adding that the FFA would look for another host country.
“Australia’s national teams are united in their support for Hakeem al-
Araibi and we call on the community to continue to campaign for his release.”
A Bangkok court extended Araibi’s detention by another two months on
Monday, asking him to present his case in April when the judges reconvene.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sunday Araibi had fled the
country while awaiting trial on charges of arson, and that issuing an
international warrant for his arrest is “standard practice”.