Bahraini Refugee Footballer Could Be Jailed in Thailand until August
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A refugee Bahraini footballer who was arrested in Thailand while on vacation from his new home in Australia could remain in jail until August while a court decides on an extradition request from Bahrain, a Thai official said on Wednesday.
Hakeem Al Araibi is fighting the extradition, saying he faces torture if returned.
Al-Araibi, 25, a former Bahraini national team player, says he fled his home country due to political repression. Bahrain wants him returned to serve a 10-year prison sentence he received in absentia in 2014 for an alleged arson attack that damaged a police station, which he denies.
The Thai court hearing the case will need two to three months to give its ruling after the next hearing in late April, said a spokesman for the attorney general’s office.
“So between now and then, Hakeem will have to be in custody for at least until August,” Trumph Jalichandra said, Reuters reported.
Australia has appealed to Thailand to release Araibi immediately.
