{"id":18273,"date":"2018-12-12T23:52:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-12T23:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/2018\/12\/12\/former-bahraini-soccer-pro-awaits-his-fate-in-a-thai-prison\/"},"modified":"2018-12-12T23:52:00","modified_gmt":"2018-12-12T23:52:00","slug":"former-bahraini-soccer-pro-awaits-his-fate-in-a-thai-prison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/former-bahraini-soccer-pro-awaits-his-fate-in-a-thai-prison\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Bahraini Soccer Pro Awaits His Fate In A Thai Prison"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denise Couture<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

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\n Hakeem al-Araibi, a soccer player with refugee status in Australia, was detained in Bangkok as he began a vacation. Bahrain wants him extradited after a vandalism conviction, but Araibi fears he will be tortured.<\/p>\n

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Lillian Suwanrumpha \/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Lillian Suwanrumpha \/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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A professional soccer player is being held in a Bangkok prison while he awaits extradition to Bahrain, where he was convicted in absentia of vandalism and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.<\/p>\n

Hakeem al-Araibi, 25, formerly on the Bahraini national soccer team, denies he vandalized a police station and says he fears political persecution and torture if he is returned to Bahrain, according to the Associated Press.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday a Thai court ruled<\/a> that Araibi could be detained for 60 days pending the completion of Bahrain’s extradition request. The court also denied a request for bail.<\/p>\n

The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said it was in contact with Araibi, who communicated this message on Dec. 4:<\/p>\n

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“This might be my last message. I still don’t know whether I will be deported to Bahrain tomorrow. I appeal to the United Nations, individual states, FIFA, footballers, and all people, as my fate is now in danger and my future will soon be over. If I am deported to Bahrain, don’t forget me, and if once I’m there you hear me saying things, don’t believe me. I know what will happen to me and I know I will be tortured to confess things that I have never done. Please continue your fight to save me.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n