Bahrain closer to extradition of footballer held in Thailand
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS JANUARY 28, 2019 / 7:26 AM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO
Bahrain closer to extradition of footballer held in Thailand
DUBAI (Reuters) - Bahrains government has submitted documents for the extradition of Hakeem Al Araibi, a Bahraini refugee footballer held in prison in Thailand, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday.
Araibi, who has refugee status in Australia and is a vocal critic of Bahrains government, was convicted of vandalizing a police station in 2014. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia and has denied wrongdoing.
Araibi was arrested in November in Bangkok, where he had traveled for his honeymoon, on an Interpol notice issued at the Gulf Arab states request. Under the Thai legal system, Bahrain must submit the documents for his extradition by Feb. 8 or apply for an extension for another 30 days.
Thai authorities could not immediately be reached for comment.
Australias Foreign Minister Marise Payne had urged Thai authorities to release Araibi while rights groups have said he was persecuted for political reasons.
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