Australia’s Buddhist community is calling on the Dalai Lama to add his voice to those urging the release of detained Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi.
The Melbourne-based refugee has been detained for more than 60 days in a Thai prison.
Vincent Ciccone, a student of the Tibetan Buddhist Society in Melbourne, wrote to Thekchen Choeling – the home of the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala – pleading for the Tibetan spiritual leader to assist in stopping Al-Alraibi from being extradited to Bahrain, where he fled repression in 2014.
“Can his precious Holiness or your office make some approach or intersession [sic] to the Thailand Government to save this young footballer from being deported to Bahrain and allow him to be freed from prison,” Mr Ciccone wrote in the letter, which has also been posted on Twitter.
Al-Alraibi will face Thailand’s criminal court on Monday for a brief hearing where prosecutors will formally ask him if he agrees to be extradited to Bahrain.
If he refuses, as expected, the 25-year-old is likely to face a lengthy trial, possibly stretching over six months.
Al-Araibi has been held in Bangkok Remand Prison for more than two months after he was detained on November 27 when he arrived in the city for his honeymoon.
His lawyer Nadthasiri Berkman said she would lodge an appeal against prosecutors when the hearing opens on Monday, in a new bid to stop Al-Araibi’s extradition.
‘Just not right’: Craig Foster leads protests as Australians rally for release of Hakeem Al-Araibi
Mr Al-Araibi was convicted to 10 years’ jail in absentia for his alleged role in a 2012 police station attack – charges he denies and says are politically motivated.
Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster has been a fierce advocate for the release of the footballer.
There has been growing support from human rights groups and the sporting community, including football’s world governing body FIFA and the International Olympic Committee.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison sent a letter to his Thai counterpart requesting Al-Araibi’s release, but Prayut Chan-o-cha said he would not intervene in the court process.
Rallies were staged in Melbourne, Sydney and other international cities on Friday to gather support for the footballer under the #SaveHakeem campaign.