Footballer will not be extradited to Bahrain

REFUGEE footballer Hakeem al-Araibi will not be sent back to Bahrain after Thailand dropped extradition proceedings against him on the Gulf State’s request, a prosecutor said on Monday. Araibi, a former Bahraini national youth team player, was granted refugee status in Australia after fleeing charges in the oil-rich kingdom connected to Arab Spring protests. But was stopped in Thailand in November attempting to go on his honeymoon. Since then, he has been detained in a Bangkok prison pending a court ruling over the extradition request from the Bahraini government – a move the footballer has pleaded against as he fears torture if returned. Monday brought a stunning about-turn from the Bahraini government, which withdrew the extradition request, said Chatchom Akapin, Director-General of the International Affairs Department at the prosecutor’s office.