Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Thailand to stop the extradition to Bahrain of a detained soccer player who has refugee status in Australia, his office said Tuesday.
In a letter to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, Morrison emphasised that Hakeem al-Araibi's case was an important matter to him personally, as well as to the Australian government and Australian people, his office said. The letter was reported earlier by The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
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 vandalising a police station, which he denies.
Human rights groups, soccer governing bodies and activists have pushed for Thailand to release al-Araibi, who plays for the semi-professional soccer club Pascoe Vale FC in Melbourne. They believe he risks being tortured if he is sent back to Bahrain.
Morrison noted that al-Araibi has a permanent protection visa issued by Australia, that the government only issues such visas after a careful process, and that Australia considers him a refugee.
Al-Araibi was detained upon his arrival in Bangkok in November while on a holiday, and a court ruled in December he could be held for 60 days pending the completion of an extradition request by Bahrain.
Thailand said it received an official extradition request on Monday. Thai foreign ministry spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks said Tuesday that the request has been forwarded to prosecutors for deliberation.
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Thailand's attorney general is expected to decide within a week whether to proceed with the extradition case, said Chatchom Akapin, director general of the international affairs department.
Chatchom said Thailand would not extradite al-Araibi "if the sought extradition is political." "If it is, then the request must be denied," he said.
Prime Minister Prayuth said the situation was complicated. "Thai officials have to follow the law in every aspect. However, Thailand has good relations with Bahrain and FIFA," he said, referring to soccer's world governing body. "How can we find a solution? I understand everyone's concerns."