Australian Prime Minister "troubled" by imprisonment of Bahraini player in Thailand

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is said to be "upset" by the sight of Bahraini football player Hakim Oreibi detained in Thailand. He told the Thai Prime Minister that it was a serious problem in Australia.

More and more pressure is being exerted on Bangkok to obtain the release of Oreibi, arrested by the Thai authorities on behalf of the Bahraini government in November, while Canberra and the International Football Association (FIFA) have called for his return to Australia, where he plays football.

Oreibi, who fled Bahrain in 2014 and then obtained permanent residency in Australia, said he would be tortured when he was sent back to Bahrain for criticizing the ruling family.

Morrison said on Tuesday that he was "troubled" to see Ureybi chained to the feet when he arrived Monday in a Bangkok courthouse. The court sentenced him to two months in prison.

"I think it was very disappointing and I know it has upset many Australians and I told the Thai Prime Minister that the Australians were very nice to him," Morrison told Sky News.

"We will continue to show this, not only to Thailand, but also to Bahrain," the Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday.

Thai Prime Minister Praiath Chan-Ocha said on Tuesday that his government could not intervene in court proceedings. "Do not rush the results and do not politicize the case," he told reporters.

"Australia and Bahrain must negotiate a solution," said Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramodwinai. "We are not concerned with this, and it is an issue that both countries should talk about."

"If you do not find a solution, Thailand is ready to mediate and I am convinced that the problem will not worsen but that it will remain for the moment cautious in the care of the Thai authorities. "

Oreibi was found guilty of destroying a police station in his country in 2014 and sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia.

But Oreibi denies any wrongdoing, claiming he was playing at a live match at that time.

Human Rights Watch, based in New York, said Oreibi was tortured by Bahraini authorities for his brother's political activities during the 2011 Arab Spring Revolution, when the Bahraini authorities deny his torture.