Refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi fights extradition to Bahrain

Hakeem Al-Araibi on the football field Symbol copyright Mark Avellino Photography Symbol caption Mr Al-Araibi claims he’ll be tortured if extradited to Bahrain

A Bahraini footballer is going through extradition from Thailand, despite global requires his release.

Hakeem Al-Araibi, 25, who holds refugee status in Australia, used to be detained in Bangkok last month on an Interpol warrant placed out by way of Bahrain.

He was once sentenced in Bahrain for vandalism however denies the charges.

Australia, soccer’s governing frame Fifa and rights groups have condemned his arrest as there are fears for his safety if he’s despatched again to Bahrain.

Mr Al-Araibi claims he’s going to be tortured if extradited.

Human Rights Watch Asia Director Brad Adams stated Thailand had to fully grasp “the grave dangers facing” the soccer participant if returned to Bahrain.

What are the rules surrounding extradition?

Thailand does not have an extradition treaty with Bahrain which would keep an eye on conditions of when and how an alleged felony could be handed over.

Yet even with out this sort of treaty, nations can request a wanted citizen to be extradited.

Rights groups although point out that during the current case there are global regulations that are meant to bar Bangkok from turning in a person in the event that they could be tortured.

HRW’s Asia Deputy Director Phil Robertson stated on Twitter that warrants like the one used within the present case, “don’t observe to identified #refugees like Hakeem al-Araibi”.

London-based totally Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy warned that Thailand might breach international law if it was to extradite the football player.

“Extraditing registered refugees and returning them to territories where they’d face a real possibility of persecution, torture, or different in poor health-treatment violates Thailand’s duties under global regulation, including the UN Convention In Opposition To Torture,” the rights crew stated in a press release.

in step with Amnesty Global, Thailand in 2014 extradited a 21-12 months vintage man to Bahrain in response to an Interpol warrant.

Amnesty said there “are credible reports that he was once tortured when he lower back to Bahrain”.

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