Dear Scott and Bill, we've strayed from our values: a Socceroo's plea

Dear Scott and Bill,

Thank you for your support for Hakeem al-Araibi during his recent struggle for justice and for the welcome provided to him last week at Parliament House. It was a powerful moment to see a young refugee celebrated in the centre of our democracy, the values of which underpinned our unshakeable conviction in his right to freedom.

A jubilant Hakeem al-Araibi arrives home from captivity in Thailand on February 12 to be greeted by former Socceroo Craig Foster.Credit: Joe Armao

In recent years, I have farewelled a loved friend and Hungarian refugee, Laszlo Urge, known as Les Murray AM, who was afforded a NSW state funeral, and seen a young Bahraini refugee become a symbol of hope and of the restoration of our values. Together, they stand as just two examples of what can be achieved by all, including those seeking a new life, free of persecution.

And not for the first time did I reflect that we are all just a different passport away from standing in their place. Had my family been in danger in a 1957 Hungary, I, too, would have fled. And had my own government had me incarcerated and tortured as a young athlete, I, too, would have spoken out and sought a new life elsewhere.

I could have been Les or Hakeem, and so could have you. While we work to ensure a prosperous and safe future for all Australians, we should never forget this.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets Hakeem al-Araibi and Craig Foster in his office at Parliament House two days after his return. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Hakeem was understandably nervous when entering your offices since, in many countries, there is an unnavigable divide between the entitled and the rest. Don’t be worried, I told him, in Australia everyone is equal and you will have the opportunity one day to hold a position of leadership, should you wish.

Australians do not revere position or title, rather we judge the person by their actions. And so too are nations judged. It is in relation to our actions as a country that I now write.

I have waited until after Hakeem was safely home [from Thailand] to explain that one of the reasons it was so difficult to garner international support was because of our own treatment of refugees. This was a constant theme throughout discussions with international stakeholders.

Nor was it lost on any of us fighting so hard against two governments and monarchies and in urging FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation and the International Olympic Committee to uphold their human rights obligations that we are failing to uphold our own.

Hakeem al-Araibi with Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Senator Penny Wong at a parliamentary soccer game on the Senate Oval on February 14. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

It cannot be right that, with Australia having participated as one of just eight nations in the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights over 70 years ago, we are prepared to put people seeking asylum at risk of physical and psychological harm in order to deter others.

The fact that Parliament faced such a considerable challenge to pass legislation simply to provide medical care to refugees, fellow human beings, shows that we have gone too far, strayed from our basic values of humanity, that we need to step back and consider as a nation who we are and what we stand for.

Illustration: John Shakespeare.Credit:

As with Hakeem’s case, this issue transcends party lines and goes to universal values. The policy of indefinite, offshore detention does not uphold our international obligations and we need to be strong enough to admit this and to find a fair and humane solution to this crisis of our conscience.

Of course, we all accept that protecting Australians is critically important and this is why we need to find a solution in which people are not harmed in return. Our country needs strong leadership from you both to regain more than our international credibility in our treatment of all people, but our very sense of nationhood and pride in how we conduct ourselves both at home, and abroad.

The shared will to save Hakeem demonstrates that Australia is ready to have this discussion and to confront the image staring back at us in the mirror.

We are a part of the broader, global family and should act accordingly, just as you and I demanded that other state and non-state actors do on Hakeem’s behalf.

I am asking that you bring together the relevant people in the same spirit of humanity that saved a young man’s life to find a workable solution that upholds the obligations that we so proudly played a role in creating in 1948. One that gives every Australian an opportunity to say that we are not just a great multicultural and sporting nation, but a caring one.

We all saved Hakeem, together, and it will be up to all of our national leaders, irrespective of who ultimately prevails in the forthcoming election, to ensure that we now save ourselves.

Kind Regards,

Craig Foster, former Australian International (Socceroo), 29 appearances, proud but concerned Australian.