AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Bahraini refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi thanked “the army who supported him” as he prepares to head back to Australia.
Al-Araibi spoke by telephone with the chairman of Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (GIDHR), Yahya Alhadid, just hours after he was freed from a Thai prison.
Alhadid tweeted that the footballer was eager to meet all those that campaigned for his release.
Thai authorities withdrew Al-Araibi’s extradition case earlier on Monday after the 25-year-old spent over two months in detention.
He was arrested at Manama’s request in November when he touched down for a holiday in Bangkok.
He is wanted in Bahrain over his alleged involvement in vandalizing a police station – a charge disputed by footage that shows Al-Araibi was playing in a football match at the time of the incident.
Al-Araibi warned that he faced torture if returned to Bahrain and said he is being persecuted for criticizing the kingdom’s rulers.
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source : Lualua TV
Tuesday
12 February 2019
12:24:15 PM
928757
The Bahraini refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi thanked “the army who supported him” as he prepares to head back to Australia.