Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi should be released by Thai authorities

Refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi will be released from his prison cell in Thailand and allowed to return home to Australia.

The shocking decision to free Araibi, rather than extradite him to his home country, Bahrain, is a major surprise that will delight the thousands who have supported his quest for freedom.

Araibi's lawyer, Nadthasiri Bergman, confirmed at the Sydney Morning Herald and L & # 39; age that Araibi would be released.

He must be released immediately and could take the plane as early as Monday night.

READ MORE:
* Rebels to maintain Thai Airways sponsorship
* A Saudi woman emerges from a barricaded room

Araibi was scheduled to return to court on April 22, but the Thai Attorney General's Office confirmed that Bahrain had requested that the case be closed.

Chatchom Akapin, director of the department's international affairs section, said that the extradition case against Araibi had been filed by the criminal court on Monday night.

Chatchom told BBC Thai that they had been informed by the Foreign Ministry that Bahrain wanted to abandon the case, but he did not know why.

The release comes one day after Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai met on Sunday with Bahraini Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, in the Bahrain capital, Manama.

Araibi was arrested by the Thai authorities on November 27 when he arrived in Bangkok for a week – long honeymoon with his wife.

A red notice from Interpol had been issued for Bahrain 's detention of Araibi, but this opinion should never have been because the refugees can not be sent back to the country. where they fled.

Bahrain had requested his extradition because he claimed to be involved in the vandalism of a police station in 2012. He was found guilty in absentia but still maintained his innocence and reported that he was disputing a football match broadcast live in Bahrain. TV until about 30 minutes before the incident.

Araibi is a refugee in Australia in 2014, was granted refugee status in 2017 and plays for Pascoe Vale FC in Melbourne.

He spoke of his love for Australia and his fear of being sent back to Bahrain, where he said that he could be tortured.

The former captain of Socceroos, Craig Foster, who contributed to the campaign for Araibi's freedom, said on Twitter "My thanks go to the wonderful people of Thailand for their support and to the Thai government for the respect for international law, my deepest gratitude for what is right ".

Evan Jones, program coordinator of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, who regularly visited Araibi in prison, said the news of the release was fantastic.

"We welcome the release of Hakeem, he should never have been arrested, we are delighted that he can return to Australia," he said.

Fatima Yazbek, spokesperson of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights of the Gulf and other supporter of Araibi, said: "This means that humanity has won, Hakeem is innocent, he has done nothing and his fight to bring him home is successful. "

"We thank all those involved in this fight, the entire Australian community, thank you all for your support," she said.

The Australian Football Federation (FFA) has welcomed the announcement of the return of footballer Hakeem al-Araibi to Australia.

FFA President Chris Nikou thanked the football community for its support. "We are extremely grateful to the governments of Thailand and Bahrain for making the decision to allow Hakeem to return to Australia," Nikou said.

"In recent months, our community has come together in an extraordinary way to campaign for the release of Hakeem.

"The football family is looking forward to welcoming Hakeem home and providing him with ongoing support after such a difficult time."