No Script

Please Wait...

Al-Ahed Telegram

Thai Court Says Bahrain Footballer to Remain in Detention

Thai Court Says Bahrain Footballer to Remain in Detention
folder_openMiddle East... access_time5 years ago
starAdd to favorites

Local Editor

A Thai court has ruled on Tuesday (Dec 11) that a soccer player who holds refugee status in Australia can be held for 60 days pending the completion of an extradition request by Bahrain, the homeland he fled four years ago on account of alleged political persecution.

Hakeem al-Araibi was detained Nov. 27 upon entry at Bangkok’s airport. Thai officials said he was held on the basis of a notice from Interpol in which Bahrain sought his custody because he had been sentenced in absentia in 2014 to 10 years in prison for vandalizing a police station, a charge he denies.

Al-Araibi says he fears being tortured if sent to Bahrain. He was convicted in absentia on charges of vandalizing a police station in the Gulf state, but says he was out of the country playing in a match at the time of the alleged offence.

The 25-year-old, who now plays for semi-professional club Pascoe Vale FC in Melbourne, was stopped by Thai immigration on November 27 after arriving in Bangkok for a vacation with his wife and held on an extradition request.

He has since been held in detention as Australia and Bahrain tussle over his fate.

His lawyer Nadthasiri Bergman told AFP Tuesday the court has extended his detention in Bangkok for 60 days.

The attorney-general's office would then file an application for his extradition, she said.

"I think he has a good chance not to be extradited because we have evidence" that he will face abuses back in Bahrain, Bergman said, adding that she is currently requesting bail for al-Araibi.

Speaking to reporters as he was led into court by immigration police, al-Araibi begged for the proceedings to be halted.

"Immigration Thailand and Immigration Bahrain work together to send me back to Bahrain. But Australia stopped them. Please stop them," al-Araibi said.

"I don't want to go back to Bahrain - I want to go back to Australia. I didn't do anything in Bahrain. I'm a refugee in Australia."

Officials from the Australian embassy were present at the court as well for the hearing.

The office of Thailand's attorney-general on Friday submitted a request to the criminal court for an arrest warrant -- a step forward in a process that could see al-Araibi extradited to Bahrain to face trial.

Asia-Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) slammed Thai authorities for moving forward on their "callous plans" to extradite al-Araibi.

"This is someone who fled his home country after being tortured, and there is every risk he will face the same treatment again if he is forced back," said APRRN's Evan Jones.

Australia, which granted him refugee status and residency in 2017, has called for his release and immediate return to his adoptive home.

On Sunday, Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne called for his "immediate return".

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

Comments