Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi faces another 60 days in Thai jail after extradition hearing
- The judge gave his lawyers until April 5 to file a written appeal before the next scheduled hearing on April 22
- He has spent almost 70 days detained while his country of birth seeks his extradition and supporters launch a high-profile campaign for his return to Australia
Refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi has been given 60 days to prepare a defence against Bahrain’s attempt to extradite him from Thailand.
The 25-year-old will remain in a Thai prison for two months more after he faced the Thai criminal court on Monday to formally lodge his refusal to be extradited to the country he fled. The judge gave his lawyers until April 5 to file a written appeal before the next scheduled hearing on April 22.
He arrived at Thailand’s Ratchadaphisek criminal court shackled and barefoot with more than a dozen other prisoners. He was flanked by a guard at each arm and several more behind him.
He shouted “don’t send me to Bahrain”. Supporters shouted back: “Australia is with you” and “Your wife sends her love”.
Al-Araibi, the 25-year-old Australian resident and refugee from Bahrain, has spent almost 70 days detained in Thailand while his country of birth seeks his extradition. A high-profile and extraordinarily unified international campaign seeks his return to Australia, but Thailand has insisted on sending him through its courts.
