SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ramped up pressure on Bangkok to release a refugee footballer held on a Bahrain extradition request, as sporting authorities cancelled two events in Thailand over his detention.
Morrison, who wrote a letter about Mr Araibi to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in January, said he sent a second one after being "very disturbed" by the sight of Hakeem al-Araibi, a Bahraini refugee and Australian resident, in chains during a court appearance Monday.
"I've written to him again because I was very disturbed at the appearance of Hakeem at the hearing the other day and he was shackled," Mr Morrison told Sky News Australia late on Tuesday.
"And I thought that was very upsetting and I know it would have upset many Australians. I'm respectfully reminding the Thai prime minister that Australians feel very strongly about this. Very, very strongly."
An international campaign is underway to free Mr Araibi, who fears torture and even death if he is returned to his homeland and has refugee status in Australia. He was detained by Thai immigration authorities in late November after arriving in Bangkok with his wife for a delayed honeymoon.
The 25-year-old was convicted in absentia on charges of vandalising a police station in Bahrain, but says he was out of the country playing in a match at the time of the alleged offence.
He subsequently applied for asylum in Australia, which granted him refugee status and residency in 2017. He had been living in Melbourne, where he plays semi-professional football.
In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald published on Tuesday, Mr Araibi urged Mr Morrison to "please, please keep fighting for me, please keep working hard on my case".
The Australian leader's push came as retired football players, professional teams and fans intensify calls for Mr Araibi's freedom.
Governing body Football Federation Australia (FFA) on Wednesday cancelled plans for the under-23 men's national team to hold a training camp and a friendly game in Thailand ahead of the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in March.
"We reassessed our plans due to the ongoing detainment of Australian footballer Hakeem al-Mr Araibi in a Thai prison," head coach Graham Arnold said in a statement, adding that the FFA would look for another host country.
"Australia's national teams are united in their support for Hakeem al-Mr Araibi and we call on the community to continue to campaign for his release."
A Bangkok court extended Mr Araibi's detention by another two months on Monday, asking him to present his case in April when the judges reconvene. He remains in detention at the Bangkok Remand Prison, where he has been since he was arrested.
Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that Mr Araibi had fled the country while awaiting trial on charges of arson, and that issuing an international warrant for his arrest was "standard practice".
Also see:
- Araibi has new ally in Twitter
- Australia PM upset by footballer in shackles
- Thailand rebuffs Australia's plea to free refugee footballer
- Court extends detention of Bahraini refugee footballer