‘Refugee footballer will not be extradited to Bahrain’

BANGKOK: Refugee footballer Hakeem al-araibi will not be sent back to Bahrain after Thailand dropped extradition proceedings against him at the Gulf State’s request, a prosecutor said 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 he was stopped at a Bangkok airport at Bahrain’s request in November as he arrived in Thailand for his honeymoon Since then, he has been detained in a Bangkok prison pending a court ruling over the extradition request from the Bahraini govt —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, Directorgeneral of the International Affairs Department at the prosecutor’s office.

“We have been informed that Bahrain wants to withdraw the (extradition) request... if they don’t want him, we have no reason to keep him here,” he said. Chatchom added that the process to release Araibi is underway.

The Australian govt has repeatedly called for Araibi’s return and the case has become a cause celebre in the football world, with FIFA also urging the Thai premier to intervene.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) last week cancelled the under-23 men’s national team plans to hold a training camp in Thailand ahead of the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers next month. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had also repeatedly pushed for his release, saying that he had written letters to his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha and stressed “how strongly” Australians feel about Araibi’s case.

Former Australian football captain Craig Foster who has been leading a protest in the football community for Araibi’s freedom expressed his “deepest gratitude” for the news.