Court to begin footballer extradition hearing Monday
Re: Court to begin footballer extradition hearing Monday
Not sure if he has gone yet. The Australian PM was on TV at 5-00pm and made a very strong point about not assuming that he would automatically be put on a flight home!
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Court to begin footballer extradition hearing Monday
He was released this afternoon and taken straight to the airport where he was catching a midnight flight to Melbourne.
Re: Court to begin footballer extradition hearing Monday
Mr Araibi was reportedly freed at 3.55pm on Monday and will be deported.
"There are no grounds to hold him anymore. It is his right to decide where he will go next. He is a free man," said Chatchom Akapin, an official in the Thai Attorney-General's office.
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oakdale160
- Rock Star
- Posts: 4657
- Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:51 pm
Re: Court to begin footballer extradition hearing Monday
The Aussie media has been going crazy over this case, I'm sure it will encourage Aussies to visit!
Re: Court to begin footballer extradition hearing Monday
'This is my country': Incredible scenes as freed footballer returns to Australia
https://au.sports.yahoo.com/incredible- ... 35314.html
Refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi has declared his love for Australia after touching down in Melbourne following his detainment in Thailand.
The 25-year-old appeared overcome by a throng of media and supporters as he emerged from the international arrival hall on Tuesday.
“I will be more strong for this country,” al-Araibi said in broken English.
“I will be strong here, just for Australia. And Australia, this is my country. Australia, I didn’t … I don’t have citizenship yet, but my country is Australia. I will die in Australia and I love Australia. Thank you very much.”
The soccer player thanked the Australian government, media and his supporters for their support, before being ushered through the crowd.
Al-Araibi was freed by Thai authorities on Monday afternoon after his home country of Bahrain 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.
‘RIDICULOUS’: FFA under fire for response to Hakeem’s release
The Thai Foreign Ministry later declined to give details of why Bahrain asked for the case to be dropped.
However, Bahrain state media reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa had spoken on the phone with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
But after al-Araibi’s release, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said the 10-year jail sentence remained in place and reaffirmed the country’s right to “pursue all necessary legal actions against him”.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison thanked Thailand for releasing al-Araibi after intense lobbying from the Australian government, global human rights groups, sporting bodies and the public.
Why was he in prison?
Al-Araibi was detained at Bangkok airport on November 27 when he arrived with his wife for their honeymoon.
The arrest was made after Bahrain issued an Interpol Red Notice for his detention on November 7.
Australia came under fire for passing on the notice to Thai authorities before his arrival.
He was facing the prospect of at least another two months in jail after a court in Bangkok last week set down his pre-trial extradition hearing for April 22.
Al-Araibi fled Bahrain in 2014, was granted refugee status by Australia and plays soccer for semi-professional Melbourne club Pascoe Vale.
His wife has not seen him for some three months, after the pair headed to Thailand for their honeymoon.
In a statement issued earlier she also offered thanks.
“My heart is now full with gratitude. Just so thankful that these tears are falling out of relief and joy,” she said in a statement, posted online by his team, Pascoe Vale Football Club.
‘A huge victory for human rights movement’
The news that Al-Araibi had been released from a Thai prison and was returning to Australia sparked joy among the many people who had fought for him.
Here’s what was said:
Story continues
https://au.sports.yahoo.com/incredible- ... 35314.html
Refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi has declared his love for Australia after touching down in Melbourne following his detainment in Thailand.
The 25-year-old appeared overcome by a throng of media and supporters as he emerged from the international arrival hall on Tuesday.
“I will be more strong for this country,” al-Araibi said in broken English.
“I will be strong here, just for Australia. And Australia, this is my country. Australia, I didn’t … I don’t have citizenship yet, but my country is Australia. I will die in Australia and I love Australia. Thank you very much.”
The soccer player thanked the Australian government, media and his supporters for their support, before being ushered through the crowd.
Al-Araibi was freed by Thai authorities on Monday afternoon after his home country of Bahrain 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.
‘RIDICULOUS’: FFA under fire for response to Hakeem’s release
The Thai Foreign Ministry later declined to give details of why Bahrain asked for the case to be dropped.
However, Bahrain state media reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa had spoken on the phone with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
But after al-Araibi’s release, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said the 10-year jail sentence remained in place and reaffirmed the country’s right to “pursue all necessary legal actions against him”.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison thanked Thailand for releasing al-Araibi after intense lobbying from the Australian government, global human rights groups, sporting bodies and the public.
Why was he in prison?
Al-Araibi was detained at Bangkok airport on November 27 when he arrived with his wife for their honeymoon.
The arrest was made after Bahrain issued an Interpol Red Notice for his detention on November 7.
Australia came under fire for passing on the notice to Thai authorities before his arrival.
He was facing the prospect of at least another two months in jail after a court in Bangkok last week set down his pre-trial extradition hearing for April 22.
Al-Araibi fled Bahrain in 2014, was granted refugee status by Australia and plays soccer for semi-professional Melbourne club Pascoe Vale.
His wife has not seen him for some three months, after the pair headed to Thailand for their honeymoon.
In a statement issued earlier she also offered thanks.
“My heart is now full with gratitude. Just so thankful that these tears are falling out of relief and joy,” she said in a statement, posted online by his team, Pascoe Vale Football Club.
‘A huge victory for human rights movement’
The news that Al-Araibi had been released from a Thai prison and was returning to Australia sparked joy among the many people who had fought for him.
Here’s what was said:
Story continues
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
-
oakdale160
- Rock Star
- Posts: 4657
- Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:51 pm
Re: Court to begin footballer extradition hearing Monday
For once I feel some sympathy for the Thai authorities. This guy entered Thai. There was an International warrant out for his arrest, so the Thai authorities did their international duty and arrested him, Then it all blew up in their face, international condemnation and then Bahrein backed down and said--forget it, you can keep him.
So, the next time some really bad guy arrives, Thai will say --Why bother?
So, the next time some really bad guy arrives, Thai will say --Why bother?
Re: Court to begin footballer extradition hearing Monday
Refugee footballer detained in Bangkok happy he's 'an Aussie now'
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... aussie-now
SYDNEY: A former Bahraini football player and refugee became an Australian citizen on Tuesday, four weeks after detention in Thailand on an extradition request from his home country raised international concern.
Hakeem al-Araibi told reporters he's “an Aussie now” and is happy to be safe.
The 25-year-old football player fled Bahrain, citing political repression, and had lived under refugee status in Australia for more than a year until he was detained in Bangkok in November at the start of a planned holiday with his wife.
He was detained after the Australia office of Interpol issued a red alert, which it later admitted was a mistake made because it didn't know Mr Araibi had refugee status in Australia.
Bahrain wanted him returned to serve a prison sentence for a vandalism conviction he denies, but Thailand withdrew the extradition case last month after sustained pressure from the Australian government and soccer bodies.
He became an Australian citizen along with 200 other people at a ceremony in Melbourne, after passing his citizenship test with a 100% mark.
“I'm an Aussie now,” he told reporters.
“I'm very happy to get citizen, I'm very happy to be safe.”
Mr Araibi said he hoped to soon resume playing football for his semi-professional Melbourne club, Pascoe Vale. But the defender also has his sights set on gaining a contract in Australia's nationwide professional competition, the A-League, with hopes of one day representing Australia in international competition.
“I want to focus on soccer for this country,” he said.
Mr Araibi said he was humbled by support from Australians in the campaign which led to his return, and thanked former Australian captain Craig Foster and Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who led efforts for his release.
“Across the Australian community, we were concerned for his welfare,” Ms Payne said at the citizenship ceremony. “I was very proud to witness that campaign. It embodied some of the best elements of Australia: looking after one another, mateship, a fair go.”
Mr Foster said he hoped to see Mr Araibi one day play for Australia, saying it was “surreal” to think that “not too long ago, he was in prison fatigues sitting behind a perspex window.'
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... aussie-now
SYDNEY: A former Bahraini football player and refugee became an Australian citizen on Tuesday, four weeks after detention in Thailand on an extradition request from his home country raised international concern.
Hakeem al-Araibi told reporters he's “an Aussie now” and is happy to be safe.
The 25-year-old football player fled Bahrain, citing political repression, and had lived under refugee status in Australia for more than a year until he was detained in Bangkok in November at the start of a planned holiday with his wife.
He was detained after the Australia office of Interpol issued a red alert, which it later admitted was a mistake made because it didn't know Mr Araibi had refugee status in Australia.
Bahrain wanted him returned to serve a prison sentence for a vandalism conviction he denies, but Thailand withdrew the extradition case last month after sustained pressure from the Australian government and soccer bodies.
He became an Australian citizen along with 200 other people at a ceremony in Melbourne, after passing his citizenship test with a 100% mark.
“I'm an Aussie now,” he told reporters.
“I'm very happy to get citizen, I'm very happy to be safe.”
Mr Araibi said he hoped to soon resume playing football for his semi-professional Melbourne club, Pascoe Vale. But the defender also has his sights set on gaining a contract in Australia's nationwide professional competition, the A-League, with hopes of one day representing Australia in international competition.
“I want to focus on soccer for this country,” he said.
Mr Araibi said he was humbled by support from Australians in the campaign which led to his return, and thanked former Australian captain Craig Foster and Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who led efforts for his release.
“Across the Australian community, we were concerned for his welfare,” Ms Payne said at the citizenship ceremony. “I was very proud to witness that campaign. It embodied some of the best elements of Australia: looking after one another, mateship, a fair go.”
Mr Foster said he hoped to see Mr Araibi one day play for Australia, saying it was “surreal” to think that “not too long ago, he was in prison fatigues sitting behind a perspex window.'
- c1_1643224_620x413.jpg (38.98 KiB) Viewed 248 times
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!