Thai authorities have defended sending refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi to court in shackles amid international outrage over his “medieval” treatment.
Mr Al-Araibi has been granted refugee status in Australia but faces extradition to Bahrain for allegedly vandalising a police station there in 2012.
Mr al-Araibi was sentenced to 10 years’ jail in absentia by Bahrain but denies he was involved in any vandalism.
He was arrested in Thailand on November 27 while on holiday and on Monday was shown arriving at court in leg restraints, shouting: “Don’t send me to Bahrain”.
Thai media are prohibited under ethical standards laid down by the self-regulating Media Council from showing images of prisoners in restraints, with multiple outlets airbrushing the restraints out of their coverage.
Photos and video of Mr al-Araibi in chains and prison garb dominated local media discussion panels about the image Thailand was sending to the world.
“I think this is causing an outrage because a lot of international media are on this story and Thai people don’t want to see Thailand treating prisoners like this,” a senior Thai journalist said.
“According to what I’ve seen on Facebook they’re saying this is such a medieval act and they shouldn’t be treating him like this.
“It’s embarrassing that this image has to be shown to the world.”
Corrections Department director-general Police Colonel Narat Sawatanan denied the footballer had been wearing shackles at all.
He said he was instead placed in “leg restraints” which could be “locked and unlocked.”
He said according to the Corrections Act any inmate leaving prison in the custody of a corrections officer had to be restrained with an appropriate “fetter”.
“Because this particular inmate has generated a lot of public interest and his case is related to international relations, the officer decided that he should use this type of restraint,” the colonel said in a statement.
“It is our duty to transport prisoners to prevent them from fleeing.”
Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster, who is leading a global charge to release Mr al-Araibi, said outside the courtroom that Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has the power to “expel this case immediately.”
“It’s obvious to the world that this is a politically motivated case, this is about retribution from Bahrain to Hakeem who spoke up against the government and others,” he said.
Foster said he has called on FIFA to discuss the possibility of issuing sporting sanctions against Thailand that could bar international matches from taking place within the country.
“If a country can’t guarantee the safety of players transiting in and through Thailand in order to play football matches, whether that’s Hakeem al-Araibi or anyone else, then clearly the ability to host matches inside Thailand is compromised,” he said.
Danthong Breen from the Union of Civil Liberties said the image of Mr al-Araibi in chains was “appalling” and went “against all rules on the treatment of prisoners.”
“The person has not been found guilty by a court,” he said.
“They should be presented in their ordinary clothes not in shackles in the court. It presents him as a criminal.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the sight of Mr al-Araibi would have upset many Australians.
Mr Morrison told Sky News last night he had received a reply to his letter to the Thai prime minister calling for the Melbourne-based footballer to be sent back to Australia.
“I’ve written to him again, because I was very disturbed at the appearance of Hakeem at the hearing the other day,” Mr Morrison said.
“He was shackled and I thought that was very upsetting and I know it would have upset many Australians.
“I’m respectfully reminding the Thai prime minister that Australians feel very strongly about this, very, very strongly.”
Mr Al-Araibi will be in custody for at least another five weeks, with pre-trial hearings scheduled for April 22 in the Bangkok Criminal Court. – AAP
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