Australia urges Thailand to release refugee footballer

Author: Agencies

MELBOURNE: Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne has urged Thai authorities on Sunday to release a footballer who holds a refugee status in Australia and who has been detained in Bangkok since late November. Hakeem AlAraibi, a former member of Bahrain’s national soccer team who has been critical of the country’s government, was arrested in Thailand on Nov. 27 based on an Interpol notice issued at Bahrain’s request. AlAraibi was convicted of vandalising a police station in Bahrain and sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia. He has denied wrongdoing. “Australia is concerned by the ongoing detention of Mr. AlAraibi and calls for his immediate return to Australia,” Payne said in a statement. FIFA has also called on the Thai authorities for the return of AlAraibi to Australia.

Published in Daily Times, December 10th 2018.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Business

Systems Limited Hosts U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, His Excellency Mr. Donald Blome

Systems Limited, Pakistan’s premier provider of IT and IT Enabled Services, had the distinct honor…

4 hours ago
  • Editorial

Protecting Journalists

Being a journalist in Pakistan means you must be willing to live with a Damoclean…

10 hours ago
  • Editorial

To Space

Pakistan's historic lunar payload - regardless of how small it may be when compared to…

10 hours ago
  • Op-Ed

Snakes, Ladders and the Power Paradox

Barack Obama's rise to the presidency in 2009 gave hope to millions across the globe.…

10 hours ago
  • Cartoons

TODAY’S CARTOON

10 hours ago
  • Op-Ed

This Is Not a Jungle!

Pakistan is neither a jungle nor are the ways of the jungle followed here. There…

10 hours ago