Don’t send me to Bahrain: Refugee footballer in Thai jail

A Bahraini refugee footballer in Thailand says he does not want to be sent back to his homeland, as he arrived at a court in Bangkok to fight Manama’s extradition request.

Hakeem al-Araibi arrived at the criminal court on Monday to launch a formal challenge against being sent back to his country of birth, where he says he may be subjected to torture or even face death if he is returned.

Upon arrival at the court, Hakeem al-Araibi asked reporters and football officials to help secure his release from the Thai jail.

“Please don’t send me to Bahrain,” he shouted to reporters as he was led into the courtroom in chains.

The 25-year-old Australian resident and refugee from Bahrain has spent almost 70 days in detention in Thailand while Bahrain seeks his extradition. He plays for Melbourne soccer club Pascoe Vale FC.

He was stopped and detained at a Bangkok airport in November 2018, as he arrived in the Asian state for a holiday.

The court on Monday said the footballer would remain in prison for another two months “to object (to) the extradition request,” and would need to present his case in April when the judges reconvene

In Bahrain, he was convicted of vandalizing a police station, but al-Araibi says he was out of the country playing in a match at the time of the alleged offense.

He believes he is being targeted over his criticism of a member of Bahrain’s ruling family, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifah.

Rights groups say al-Araibi could be facing an unfair trial, imprisonment and torture if he is extradited to his homeland,

His case has prompted calls from Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison, soccer’s world governing body, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), for Thailand to avoid sending him back to the kingdom.

His supporters argue that al-Araibi should instead be released and sent back to Australia.

“Thailand has really been used by Bahrain in this situation,” said former Australian soccer captain Craig Foster.

Foster, who has been campaigning around the world for his release, was outside the courtroom on Monday.

“The Thai prime minister should simply step up and say this is a politically motivated charge, that the international reputation of Thailand is being damaged, and that Hakeem al-Araibi should immediately be released,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

Bahrain has been under criticism by internationals rights groups for cracking down on political dissent over the past years.

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in mid-February 2011. They are demanding that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.

Rights group slams Thailand for ‘assisting Bahrain’s regime.’

A free speech advocacy group, known as ARTICLE 19, said in a statement on Monday that Thailand is “assisting the Bahraini government to extend its attacks on freedom of expression beyond its borders,” through proceeding with al-Araibi’s extradition request.

“Thailand has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to do other countries’ dirty work by arresting, harassing and forcibly repatriating refugees and political exiles,” said Matthew Bugher, Article 19’s Head of Asia Program.

Thailand hit the headlines late last year, when its immigration authorities arrested a Saudi girl, who was fleeing his family.

Rahaf Mohammed Mutlaq al-Qunun was trying to reach Australia to seek asylum there, but was stopped by Saudi and Kuwaiti immigration officials during transit at the Bangkok airport.

After appealing for help on Twitter and thus gaining significant worldwide attention, Thai authorities abandoned their plans to forcibly deport her.

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