Bahraini footballer arrives in Australia
SYDNEY: A refugee Bahraini footballer, who was held in a Thai prison for more than two months at the Gulf state’s request, arrived in his adoptive home Australia yesterday, 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. Authorities in Bahrain accused Araibi of crimes committed during the Arab Spring protests of 2011, charges which he denied.
“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.
Hundreds of supporters clamoured to embrace him, TV footage showed, and cheered “Welcome home, Hakeem!”. He wore the colours of Pascoe Vale, the semiprofessional team he plays for in Melbourne, Australia’s secondlargest 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“Finally, this nightmare has ended,” Araibi’s wife, who has asked for her name not to be published to protect her safety, said in a statement.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 had been convicted of vandalising a police station in Bahrain and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia.
Araibi has denied any wrongdoing, saying that he was playing in a televised match at the time the offence was committed, and was granted asylum in Australia in 2017. Bahrain, however, sought his extradition from Thailand.