Save Hakeem Al-araibi
Donation protected
Australian resident refugee football player remanded by Thai Authorities, fear of being extradited to Bahrain.
A refugee football player from Melbourne who has been detained at Bangkok Airport since 27 November was moved to Suan Plu (Bangkok) Immigration Detention Centre on 2nd December . Today a court has ordered he be remanded while determining representation. He faces deportation back to Bahrain, the country from which he sought refuge and where he fears torture and persecution.
On 27 November, Hakeem Al-Araibi had travelled from Australia to Thailand to with his wife. On arrival, he was detained at Bangkok Airport by Thai authorities on the basis of an Interpol Red Notice. The Notice relates to politically motivated charges issued in Bahrain against Al-Araibi. It is noted that, since 2015 Interpol has said it would not allow red notices against confirmed refugees and asylum seekers from the countries they fled from.
Human rights activists in both Australia and Thailand, campaigned for the release Al-Araibi and highlighted the responsibility of both Australia and Thailand to protect Al-Araibi, a refugee who fled Bahrain because of persecution and torture due to his peaceful involvement in protest against the ruling family during the Arab Spring of 2011.
The Australia Embassy in Bangkok advised Al-Araibi on 30 November 2018 that his situation is cleared with the Thai authorities and to book on the first flight back to Australia, however, Thai immigration authorities refused to hand him his travel document and insisted that he should book for a flight the following night. A few hours before his pre-booked flight to Melbourne last night, Thai immigration authorities transferred Al-Araibi to Suan Plu Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok, where he is now detained. Thai authorities advised Al-Araibi that the case is now between the Australian and the Bahraini Governments, and the decision is theirs.
Al-Araibi had arrived in Australia in 2015 and was granted refugee status and permanent residency. He has worked hard to build a future here in Australia. Last season he played for Pascoe Vale Football Club, taking the position of defence. He played at the National premium League for Victoria. He has been signed by the club for the upcoming season in 2019. The Chairman of Pascoe Vale Club, Lou Tona, told the ABC that Al-Araibi “was a respectful kid, a respectful person within the team mates…. He never got out of line, he’s just a quiet unassuming character. I just hope that him and his wife are ok”.
Activists are demanding to allow Hakeem to return back to his current country Australia to save him from the imminent danger if deported to Bahrain. Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, said “Under no circumstances can he be sent to Bahrain…. Interpol Red Notices do NOT apply to recognised refugees like Hakeem al-Araibi”. Mr Robertson added that “MFAThai should coordinate with dfat & Refugees to ensure that he is not forced back to Bahrain to face imprisonment and torture”.
John Didulica from PFA is leading the campaign in order to raise support and funding for Hakeem. John Didulica will be withdrawing the funds in his name, and will be transferring them to the legal team in Thailand.
We wish to raise funds in order to provide Hakeem with access to a human rights lawyer in Thailand in an attempt to have his life and return him home to Australia!
Please donate !!
A refugee football player from Melbourne who has been detained at Bangkok Airport since 27 November was moved to Suan Plu (Bangkok) Immigration Detention Centre on 2nd December . Today a court has ordered he be remanded while determining representation. He faces deportation back to Bahrain, the country from which he sought refuge and where he fears torture and persecution.
On 27 November, Hakeem Al-Araibi had travelled from Australia to Thailand to with his wife. On arrival, he was detained at Bangkok Airport by Thai authorities on the basis of an Interpol Red Notice. The Notice relates to politically motivated charges issued in Bahrain against Al-Araibi. It is noted that, since 2015 Interpol has said it would not allow red notices against confirmed refugees and asylum seekers from the countries they fled from.
Human rights activists in both Australia and Thailand, campaigned for the release Al-Araibi and highlighted the responsibility of both Australia and Thailand to protect Al-Araibi, a refugee who fled Bahrain because of persecution and torture due to his peaceful involvement in protest against the ruling family during the Arab Spring of 2011.
The Australia Embassy in Bangkok advised Al-Araibi on 30 November 2018 that his situation is cleared with the Thai authorities and to book on the first flight back to Australia, however, Thai immigration authorities refused to hand him his travel document and insisted that he should book for a flight the following night. A few hours before his pre-booked flight to Melbourne last night, Thai immigration authorities transferred Al-Araibi to Suan Plu Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok, where he is now detained. Thai authorities advised Al-Araibi that the case is now between the Australian and the Bahraini Governments, and the decision is theirs.
Al-Araibi had arrived in Australia in 2015 and was granted refugee status and permanent residency. He has worked hard to build a future here in Australia. Last season he played for Pascoe Vale Football Club, taking the position of defence. He played at the National premium League for Victoria. He has been signed by the club for the upcoming season in 2019. The Chairman of Pascoe Vale Club, Lou Tona, told the ABC that Al-Araibi “was a respectful kid, a respectful person within the team mates…. He never got out of line, he’s just a quiet unassuming character. I just hope that him and his wife are ok”.
Activists are demanding to allow Hakeem to return back to his current country Australia to save him from the imminent danger if deported to Bahrain. Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, said “Under no circumstances can he be sent to Bahrain…. Interpol Red Notices do NOT apply to recognised refugees like Hakeem al-Araibi”. Mr Robertson added that “MFAThai should coordinate with dfat & Refugees to ensure that he is not forced back to Bahrain to face imprisonment and torture”.
John Didulica from PFA is leading the campaign in order to raise support and funding for Hakeem. John Didulica will be withdrawing the funds in his name, and will be transferring them to the legal team in Thailand.
We wish to raise funds in order to provide Hakeem with access to a human rights lawyer in Thailand in an attempt to have his life and return him home to Australia!
Please donate !!
Fundraising team (2)
Latifa Al-haouli
Organizer
Raised $903 from 14 donations
Melbourne VIC
John Didulica
Beneficiary
Fatima Yazbek
Team member
Raised $70 from 2 donations
This team raised $5,628 from 110 other donations.
