UN urged to help Australia-based soccer player Hakeem al-Araibi’s release from Thai jail
- Bahrain convicted Araibi on vandalism charges, but defence says it was impossible because he was playing football in a televised match at the time of the crime
Supporters of the Australia-based refugee Hakeem al-Araibi have petitioned the United Nations to try to get the young footballer out of a Thai jail cell, where he awaits extradition to Bahrain over a conviction he says is politically motivated.
He has been in detention for more than two weeks since his arrest at Bangkok airport after arriving for a holiday with his wife. A Thai court has ordered further detention of 60 days while it processes an extradition request from Bahrain, despite appeals from the Australian government to return Araibi.
The urgent appeal submission was compiled by rights groups including Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy.
It was addressed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and a number of high-ranking UN representatives including the special rapporteur on torture, and the working group on arbitrary detention.
“ADHRB and BIRD submit that the extradition of Mr Araibi to Bahrain would constitute an unlawful refoulement, and would be in violation of Thailand’s international legal obligations,” it said.