Hakeem al-Araibi’s emotional reunion with wife after Thai arrest nightmare
The Australian refugee soccer player who was locked up in a Thai prison cell is spending his first night home in Melbourne after 76 days.
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The Australian refugee soccer player who was locked up in a Thai prison cell is spending his first night home in Melbourne after 76 days.
Hakeem Al-Araibi, 25, returned to his adopted country on Tuesday as the world’s most famous semi-professional player.
A global campaign led to the Thai and Bahraini governments buckling under pressure to release him.
Sporting the shirt of his State League side Pascoe Vale, a tired Al-Araibi arrived at Melbourne Airport to a rapturous reception from hundreds of supporters.
He then returned to his Bundoora home just before 2.30pm, for an emotional reunion with his wife.
He later attended a private function with supporters who helped secure his release including the driving force behind the campaign, former Socceroo Craig Foster.
Al-Araibi’s wife, who didn’t want to give her name because of fears for her family’s safety in Bahrain, was overcome with emotion at seeing her husband again. “My heart is now full of gratitude. These tears are falling out of relief and joy,’’ she said in a statement. “Finally this nightmare has ended.”
Their honeymoon was halted when he was detained by Thai authorities, alerted by an Interpol “red notice’’ that he was a wanted man in Bahrain. But as a refugee granted residency in Australia, he should never have been red-flagged.
MORE: Refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi freed from Thai jail
MORE: Scott Morrison sets scene for election fight
The former Bahrain youth international had been sentenced to 10 years in jail in absentia for vandalising a police station. But he insists that was a trumped-up charge during civil unrest in his homeland. Thai authorities considered an extradition request from Bahrain, but finally freed him after international pressure, including from Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“Hakeem is a hero. A young man who stood up for friends and fellow footballers. And has been jailed twice for that. Yet he still keeps fighting,” Players union chief executive John Didulica said.
“That Australia’s footballers and the broader football community could overcome the royal houses of two countries to win his freedom is a testament to the strength of our collective voice.”
Al-Araibi said on his arrival: “I don’t have citizenship yet, but my country is Australia. I will die in Australia and I love Australia.
“I want to thank Australia, it’s amazing to see all the people here, all of Australia, the media who have supported me. I will be more strong for this country.”
Earlier, Al-Araibi declared he would “be strong” for Australia after stepping off his Thailand Airways flight.
After passing through customs, Al-Araibi emerged to greet and address his jubilant supporters, including former Socceroos captain Craig Foster.
He was greeted by hundreds of supporters, ranging from sports fans and teammates to groups including unionists and Amnesty International, as he departed his flight shortly after noon today.
He stepped off his Thai Airways flight to the sound of You’ll Never Walk Alone, sung by a group of happy fans. Others stood by waving flags and posters declaring “Welcome Home Hakeem”.
Hakeem is here! #HakeemSaved ðŸ™@Craig_Foster pic.twitter.com/lgzxhMfu32
— The PFA (@thepfa) February 12, 2019
Foster also addressed the crowd, thanking supporters for being such an “amazing coalition of people”.
“I’m very proud today to be Australian,” Foster said. “I think what’s occurred over the last almost three months, to fight incredibly hard for not just a young player who virtually no-one knew, but a refugee who was under our protection and who we felt that all of us needed to step forward and protect — to see him back here on home soil today speaks volumes about the character, the values and the pride that we have as Australians.”
Unionists including @sallymcmanus have rocked up at Melbourne Airport to welcome Hakeem al-Araibi #savehakeem pic.twitter.com/ySLgsL6kPt
— Rachel Baxendale (@rachelbaxendale) February 12, 2019
He paid tribute to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne for their efforts over the past two months, and thanked FIFA for stepping up to the line.
“It made a significant difference, guys,” Foster said.
But he went on to issue a warning to those who contributed to al-Araibi’s plight:
“There are massive themes here around … refugees, international law, our own policies, around sport governance, in which we think is a massive step taken forward today.
“It’s something the next stage of this campaign is to start to clean-up some of the sport’s governance that played a role in bringing this about, and that ultimately put Hakeem in jail back in 2012 and saw him tortured. And we’re not going to stop until we hold people accountable for what’s occurred over the last three months.”
Prime Minster Scott Morrison welcomed the Thai Government’s decision to release Al-Araibi.
“We know all Australians will deeply appreciate the decision, allowing him to return to his wife, family and friends,” he said in a statement.
“The outpouring of support – from the Pascoe Vale Football Club, to the advocacy of Craig Foster and the Football Federation of Australia and so many others – is a testament to how deeply Mr al-Araibi’s situation touched Australians.”
He commended Thailand’s “commitment to due process and human rights”.
“The people of Australia have a great affection for Thailand and the Thai people,” he said, added that the two nations had a “deep and enduring partnership”.
“We also acknowledge the constructive dialogue that we have had with Bahrain in helping to resolve this issue,” he said.
Supporters of Hakeem al-Araibi have sung You’ll Never Walk Alone at Melbourne airport as they wait for the footballer to land. @AAPNewswire pic.twitter.com/9ntFCl5XXE
— Caroline Schelle (@carolineschelle) February 12, 2019
CASE DROPPED
An official from the Thai Attorney-General’s office, Chatchom Akapin, said Bahrain had requested the case be dropped after it had sought his extradition.
Al-Araibi was wanted by Bahrain after fleeing the country when he was charged with vandalising a police station in 2012. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail in absentia.
The Thai Foreign Ministry later refused to give details of why Bahrain asked for the case to be dropped. However, Bahrain state media reported that Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa spoke on the phone with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Tribute to tens and tens of thousands of Australians, the football and sporting communities and many, many organisations that we #WelcomehomeHakeem today - crowds and interest growing! #savehakeem pic.twitter.com/jmHbh7i5fL
— Amnesty International Australia 🕯 (@amnestyOz) February 12, 2019
But after Al-Araibi’s release, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement the 10-year jail sentence remained in place and reaffirmed the country’s right to “pursue all necessary legal actions against him”.
Mr Morrison thanked Thailand for releasing al-Araibi after intense lobbying from the Australian government, global human rights groups, sporting bodies and the public.
“We greatly appreciate their listening to the issues that have been raised by our government and many others who have raised this case,” Mr Morrison said.
The PM noted he appreciated the “constructive dialogue” with Bahrain, for enabling Al-Araibi to return to Australia.
“We look forward to seeing you home, Hakeem,” he tweeted with a photo of the soccer player this morning.
[1/2] Hakeem al-Araibi is on his way home to his wife and family.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) February 11, 2019
I want to thank all Australians for their support in achieveing this outcome. We are grateful to the Thai Government and thank them for the way they have engaged with us to enable Hakeem to return to Australia. pic.twitter.com/PfrMhmDB0z
CRAIG FOSTER’S EXPLOSIVE CALL
Fresh from victory in the campaign to save refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, former Socceroos captain Craig Foster has issued an explosive call to Prime Minister Scott Morrison to overhaul how Australia treats refugees.
In a powerful open letter this morning, Mr Foster said the Australian government must implement “more humane” refugee policies.
He has also dubbed al-Araibi’s case the start of a “fight for the soul of sport” while condemning the sports officials “willing to sacrifice the life of one player” while “occupying positions of influence and prestige”.
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