The outpouring of public emotion at the plight of Hakeem al-Araibi is a reminder of how powerful football can be when everyone in the game pulls together.
There’s nothing to be gained from trivialising al-Araibi’s case.
At the end of the day, a 25-year-old refugee remains locked in a Thai prison, separated from his wife and at risk of being extradited to a country where his life is in danger for a crime he couldn’t possibly have committed.
But as sensitive as one needs to be when discussing al-Araibi’s detention – and the only appropriate outcome is for the former Bahrain international to be released by Thai authorities so that he can return to his long-time home in Melbourne – it’s been both heartening and in some ways surprising to see the way the football community has mobilised around the case.
There is now genuine pressure on the Thai government to release al-Araibi back into the care of Australian authorities.
That pressure has come from a campaign led by former Socceroo Craig Foster, backed by Amnesty International and supported by a cast of thousands of high-profile and everyday Australians.
It has resulted in Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison writing twice to Thai authorities urging al-Araibi’s release and very publicly taking up his cause.
The pressure is said to have annoyed Thai authorities – who won’t react favourably to the prospect of losing face – and prompted a terse statement from Bahrain’s Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, earlier this week.
“External interference in the internal affairs of Bahrain is unacceptable,” the statement read in part.
“Those raising unfounded doubts about the integrity and independence of the Kingdom’s judicial system are not only interfering, but also attempting to influence the course of justice.”
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Al-Araibi, who is a Shia Muslim from a country ruled by a Sunni monarchy, alleges that he was tortured after being arrested in 2012 as part of a crackdown amidst the ongoing Bahraini uprising.
He was charged with vandalising a police station but was playing in a televised Bahraini Premier League game when the alleged offence took place.
He fled Bahrain while playing for the national team in Qatar and subsequently sought and was granted asylum in Australia in 2014, eventually settling in Melbourne and playing semi-professional football with NPL club Pascoe Vale.
Al-Araibi believes one of the reasons Bahrain is seeking his extradition from Thailand is because of critical remarks he made about Asian Football Confederation President, Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa.
The AFC was conspicuously quiet following the outcry over al-Araibi’s arrest, only writing to Thai authorities requesting his release more than two months after he was first detained.
That response arrived following a torrent of social media activity urging authorities to release al-Araibi from the Bangkok Remand Prison, with the #SaveHakeem hashtag trending across the globe.
The letter was also published on the same day a section of United Arab Emirates fans jeered the Qatari national anthem and threw shoes at Qatari players – an offensive gesture in Middle Eastern cultures symbolising the throwing of dirt on one’s adversaries – during the Asian Cup semi-final in Abu Dhabi.
“Bringing Asia Together?” Hardly.
And the AFC, which has long functioned as a mini Gulf-controlled fiefdom, has shown little to suggest they can be trusted to do the right thing by al-Araibi.
So it’s left to the football community and Australians at large to stand up and speak out on behalf of a refugee currently being used as a political pawn.
The outpouring of emotion has been both impressive and immense, and at times it’s almost hard not to wonder why the football community doesn’t expend as much energy actually supporting the game in Australia.
But that’s a trite observation to make.
What’s at stake here is a young man’s life. The wheels of justice turn slowly in Thailand, but turn they must.
And Australians must remain firm and remind the world that Hakeem al-Araibi will not simply be forgotten.
Pedro
Guest
Hakeem met by fans at airport Marko Simic met by federal police at airport
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
I want to say a lot of things, but this will suffice, Hakeem welcome home, glad you are back with your loved ones, your club and your community. Craig Foster, the PFA, the Football Family and #Sokkahtwitter outstanding work this is truly a great thing, #SaveHakeem was trending world wide, players from all over the world were voicing their support. It was a great thing. The former Rick and now DrDisnik you were wrong (again) the pressure worked, I know you might not be as happy that Football flexed it's muscle and governments listened. Molly I guess you are one of the few outside of Bahrain Royalty that ain't happy with the result, not sorry.
Pablo
Guest
Ah that old chestnut - you have to help your own first. Cant we do both? Generally what I find from your sort of person is that you don't want help given to people like Hakeem and will bleat about helping our own, but you yourself will do absolutely nothing to "help your own". People that actually do help others have empathy and wouldn't be making the petty distinctions you are.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Moderators can delete my comments if they like and think that I overstepped the mark. Unlike you I wont throw a tantrum. However I must admit, seeing Rick lose his marbles over a comment deletion is fantastic :D
Molly’s Hatchet
Guest
What I’m saying is , they seem to choose who they care about according to who’s squealing at the time . There are plenty of Australians suffering every day in this country, but the government suits itself when it’s going come to the rescue.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Look mate, much as I'd love to, I unfortunately don't have the time to watch this like a hawk. As for the notion of changing the rules just because it's made you unhappy, that rather defies the very point of moderation.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I don't think you do, nor a majority here. I'd wager there's no difference in the premise. The USA did not want to be seen as caving into Soviet pressure; hence a removal of their offensive capabilities in Italy and Turkey were removed many months after a deal was struck with the Soviets. The Australian government absolutely should be putting political pressure on the Thai government but not in an open manner for this very reason. This article, along with most of the comments, is counterproductive for this very fundamental reason.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I'd wager there's a difference between between a foreign government holding an Australian resident in custody, and two superpowers bickering about literal nuclear bombs. I do take your point, though.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Read up on how the Cuban Missle Crisis was eventually resolved between the USA and the Soviet Union. You will understand what I mean by 'openly' pressuring a foreign government and how it is counterproductive.
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Agree totally with the bit about governments wasting money on all manner of dubious projects, issues and agendas. I am however, happy for them to intervene to stop another country from basically taking an Australian refugee 'home' to be executed on dubious charges. If Hakeem had done something criminal, then he should be accountable etc. No problem there. But to silently stand by, do nothing and allow a person to go to his death on trumped-up charges is nothing less than being a coward.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Openly pressuring ‘foreign government A’ that has one of our own residents in it’s custody, whilst ‘foreign government B’ attempts extricate him for crimes that are false is literally exactly the thing I’d want our foreign affairs system to be doing. Our politicians need to be a bit more careful, sure, but our diplomats have a responsibility to be forceful to get results. There’s nothing to be gained right now, this far into the situation, by being calm and hoping the situation will resolve itself. Cause we both know nothing will happen if normal process continues.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
well there's the door don't let it hit you on the way out
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Does it add anything 'helpful' to the discussion as our tough little hero Daniel would say?...
AGO74
Guest
Molly - he is a permanent resident. He is one of our own. Dufus.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
No, and has been answered a number of times, go back read the answer educate yourself otherwise you betray yourself to be something else
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Is Kaks wrong though?
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
I may need to be corrected, but I am not sure if Hakeem has resided in Australia long enough to meet Citizenship criteria, happy to be corrected, and it would solve a number of issues, I presume
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
No, as an Australian Resident, and has been said by 3 people I believe already he was granted asylum by Australia and therefore under the protection of Australia.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
The irony here is spectacular. You see, someone like yourself would report this comment. The very fact Daniel has allowed this (and I'm sure he's watching this thread like a Hawk) comment makes for a truly memorable end to this discussion.
Molly’s Hatchet
Guest
Australia neees to start taking care of its own , and stop piissiing money up the wall trying to appease the UN and lobby groups ,,, my opinion and I don’t really GAF what people such as yourself think.