Refugee Bahraini Footballer Returns Home, Hails Australia
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A refugee Bahraini footballer who was held in a Thai prison for more than two months at the Persian Gulf state’s request arrived in his adoptive home Australia, television pictures showed, to cheers and the great relief of his wife.
Hakeem Al Araibi, 25, who fled Bahrain in 2014 and received refugee status in Australia, was released from prison in Bangkok on Monday. Bahrain wanted him returned to serve a 10-year prison sentence he received in absentia in 2014 for an alleged arson attack that damaged a police station. Araibi denies those charges.
“Australia is my country. I don’t have citizenship yet, but my country is Australia ... I love Australia, I will die in Australia,” Araibi said after he disembarked in Melbourne airport from a Thai Airways flight, Reuters reported.
Hundreds of supporters clamored to embrace him, TV footage showed, and cheered “Welcome home, Hakeem!”. He wore the colors of Pascoe Vale, the semi-professional team he plays for in Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city.
“Finally, this nightmare has ended,” Araibi’s wife, who has asked for her name not to be published to protect her safety, said in a statement. “My heart is now full with gratitude. Just so thankful that these tears are falling out of relief and joy.”
Newlywed Araibi went to Thailand for his honeymoon but was arrested upon arrival in Bangkok in November, following an Interpol “red notice” issued at Bahrain’s request and brought to Thailand’s attention by Australian police.
He was freed after nearly three months of high-drama diplomacy, legal maneuvering by the governments of Australia, Thailand and Bahrain, and a loud public campaign by footballers and human rights activists.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison twice wrote to his Thai counterpart to urge Araibi’s release, while Foreign Minister Marise Payne traveled to Bangkok to press for his freedom.
Bahrain halted its extradition bid on Monday, while reserving the right to pursue further action against Araibi.
