Australia hits back at Thailand over Hakeem al-Araibi red notice

The Australian government has strongly rejected Thailand’s suggestion it requested Hakeem Al-Araibi be detained.

Hakeem al-Araibi is escorted to a courtroom in Bangkok earlier this week. Picture: AFP

The Australian government has hit back at Thai authorities, declaring it did not issue the Red Notice for refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi’s arrest after the Thai Foreign Ministry suggested it had.

The Australian Embassy in Bangkok released a strongly-worded statement in a bid to “clear up confusion” over who issued the Interpol Red Notice, which sparked the extradition request of al-Araibi.

“This Red Notice was issued by Bahrain on 8 November 2018, shortly before Mr al-Araibi travelled to Bangkok,” the statement said.

“The red notice should never have been issued because of Mr al-Araibi’s status as a protected refugee. This was a breach of Interpol’s regulations.”

The Australian government said when they became aware of the situation, they “rescinded” the red notice three days after Mr al-Araibi arrived in Bangkok.

The response comes a day after Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Australia issued the Red Notice alert.

“Thailand had previously not been aware of Mr Hakeem’s case and does not have any prejudice against him. Indeed, we would not have become involved in the issue had we not received the Red Notice alert from the Australian Interpol and the subsequent formal request by Bahrain for his arrest and extradition,” the statement said.

Again, this is contrary to position of ⁦@prayutofficial⁩ Bahrain issued the red notice, on the day Hakeem received his Thai visa at Melb embassy ergo Thailand notified Bahrain: “This red notice was issued by Bahrain on 8 November 2018” #SaveHakeem https://t.co/up9JJqlfZ8

— Craig Foster (@Craig_Foster) February 7, 2019

The Australian government is now “reviewing procedures” so a case like Mr al-Araibi’s does not occur again and stood firm on the government’s position that the footballer be returned to Australia, where he is a permanent resident.

The 25-year-old Araibi, who has been granted refugee status by Australia, was detained in Bangkok on November 27 when he arrived for a one week honeymoon with his wife.

As tensions rise over Mr al-Araibi’s detainment, which is nearing the 70-day mark, a coalition of Thai human rights and civil liberties groups, academics and leading legal figures have all called on the government to ­release the refugee footballer.

In an open letter to the government, the 57 signatories said the government should not deport Mr al-Araibi on two legal and human rights grounds. They also called for him to be granted bail.

The Australian citizen is in custody awaiting his April court hearing on whether he will be extradited to Bahrain where he was sentenced to 10 years’ jail in absentia for vandalising a police station in 2012.

He was arrested by Thai authorities on November 27 at Bahrain’s request. Mr al-Araibi, who claims he was playing in a televised match when the attack took place, denies the charges.

His case has sparked outrage from Australia and the inter­national sporting community.

Referring to the 2008 Extradition Act, the coalition said Mr al-Araibi, 25, should not be ­deported as extraditable offences should not be of a “political character”.

The letter said Mr Araibi had been prosecuted as a result of an allegation related to his “opposition to or criticism of the Bahraini government and his other alleged offences also constitute political character”. It also said that under the UN Convention Against Torture, countries are urged not to deport people to territories where they fear “persecution, torture, cruel treatment or a life-threatening situation”.

— with AAP