1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:01:30,625 --> 00:01:32,583 The life of a refugee footballer 4 00:01:32,666 --> 00:01:34,208 is hanging in the balance. 5 00:01:34,291 --> 00:01:35,500 A nightmare far from 6 00:01:35,583 --> 00:01:36,916 what Hakeem Al-Araibi imagined 7 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:38,583 when he flew off on his honeymoon. 8 00:01:38,666 --> 00:01:40,208 Please stop them. 9 00:01:40,291 --> 00:01:41,958 He believes he's been wrongly targeted 10 00:01:42,041 --> 00:01:43,333 by the Bahraini authorities. 11 00:01:43,416 --> 00:01:46,291 Hakeem, unwittingly, had walked into a trap. 12 00:01:46,375 --> 00:01:47,708 ...as his extradition case 13 00:01:47,791 --> 00:01:49,791 unfolds between three countries. 14 00:01:49,875 --> 00:01:51,291 His supporters included 15 00:01:51,375 --> 00:01:53,625 former Socceroos captain Craig Foster. 16 00:01:53,708 --> 00:01:57,375 This is going to bring up issues of corruption, 17 00:01:57,458 --> 00:01:58,875 of human rights abuse. 18 00:01:58,958 --> 00:01:59,958 We're going to have to take on 19 00:02:00,041 --> 00:02:01,666 the biggest powers in world football. 20 00:02:01,750 --> 00:02:02,833 The twenty-five-year-old 21 00:02:02,916 --> 00:02:05,833 was brought before the Bangkok court shackled in chains. 22 00:02:05,916 --> 00:02:07,958 Now that image shocked the world. 23 00:02:08,041 --> 00:02:10,083 A global campaign to free Hakeem. 24 00:02:13,041 --> 00:02:14,250 He lives in terror 25 00:02:14,333 --> 00:02:15,416 of being extradited to Bahrain, 26 00:02:15,500 --> 00:02:17,541 where he could be tortured or even killed. 27 00:02:17,625 --> 00:02:19,041 Please save me, please. 28 00:02:19,125 --> 00:02:20,458 Like the worst criminal. 29 00:02:20,541 --> 00:02:21,875 How is all this occurring? 30 00:02:21,958 --> 00:02:23,375 You know, what's this kid done? 31 00:02:53,083 --> 00:02:55,708 It was a Tuesday night, I remember this distinctly. 32 00:02:55,791 --> 00:02:59,541 We got a message from Hakeem in Thailand. 33 00:03:15,416 --> 00:03:18,375 Hakeem has been detained in Thailand. 34 00:03:18,458 --> 00:03:19,666 Detained in Thailand? 35 00:03:19,750 --> 00:03:20,916 What do you mean he's-- What's he done? 36 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,416 It was excellent football from Pascoe Vale. 37 00:03:23,500 --> 00:03:25,625 Dangerous ball with a flick, Headers in. 38 00:03:25,708 --> 00:03:27,333 It's a wonderful finish. 39 00:03:27,416 --> 00:03:29,208 Hakeem Al-Araibi. 40 00:03:29,291 --> 00:03:32,166 We had re-signed Hakeem in that summer. 41 00:03:32,250 --> 00:03:33,875 The values that he has are very important 42 00:03:33,958 --> 00:03:35,375 to our football club, you know? 43 00:03:35,458 --> 00:03:37,791 Family person, honest player. 44 00:03:37,875 --> 00:03:39,333 If you come up against Hakeem, 45 00:03:39,416 --> 00:03:41,041 you knew you had a battle on your hands. 46 00:03:41,125 --> 00:03:42,916 He was a very tough defender. 47 00:03:44,375 --> 00:03:45,708 I knew he was a refugee, 48 00:03:45,791 --> 00:03:47,958 and he had some sort of issues in Bahrain, 49 00:03:48,041 --> 00:03:51,500 and that the government wanted to-- to persecute him. 50 00:03:52,708 --> 00:03:53,875 Australia took him in. 51 00:03:53,958 --> 00:03:56,000 He's starting to make a life for himself. 52 00:03:59,708 --> 00:04:01,375 He's met a lady. 53 00:04:01,458 --> 00:04:02,541 He's gotten married. 54 00:04:02,625 --> 00:04:04,666 They didn't have a chance to have a honeymoon. 55 00:04:04,750 --> 00:04:07,416 And he was taking his wife to Thailand. 56 00:04:15,875 --> 00:04:18,041 I didn't eat anything here. 57 00:04:18,583 --> 00:04:23,083 If you can, anyone, help me to go back to Australia, please. 58 00:04:23,166 --> 00:04:27,041 He sent voice notes to all the Bahrainis 59 00:04:27,125 --> 00:04:29,333 who are outside Bahrain that he knows. 60 00:04:30,083 --> 00:04:32,833 So, why he is arrested, it didn't make sense. 61 00:04:32,916 --> 00:04:34,625 He has a protection visa. 62 00:04:34,708 --> 00:04:37,041 So, we tried contacting the DFAT. 63 00:04:37,541 --> 00:04:39,583 The lady who answered my call, she's like, 64 00:04:39,666 --> 00:04:42,333 "He's not Australian. I can't do anything for him." 65 00:04:42,416 --> 00:04:45,750 I'm not asking you if he's Australian or not, 66 00:04:45,833 --> 00:04:47,833 I'm telling you that there is a life 67 00:04:47,916 --> 00:04:49,833 of a human being in danger. 68 00:04:51,333 --> 00:04:53,125 And we were trying to figure out 69 00:04:53,208 --> 00:04:54,833 why was Hakeem arrested? 70 00:04:54,916 --> 00:04:56,666 Is he guilty of doing something? 71 00:04:56,750 --> 00:04:58,291 Or, he is really innocent. 72 00:05:43,833 --> 00:05:45,333 Well, pro-democracy protests 73 00:05:45,416 --> 00:05:47,583 are continuing to spread across the Middle East. 74 00:05:47,666 --> 00:05:49,291 Thousands of protestors in Bahrain 75 00:05:49,375 --> 00:05:51,416 are calling for constitutional reform, 76 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:53,791 and this is the man they chant about: 77 00:05:53,875 --> 00:05:55,375 King Hamad Al Khalifa, 78 00:05:55,458 --> 00:05:57,000 head of the family that has ruled them 79 00:05:57,083 --> 00:05:58,416 for over two centuries. 80 00:05:58,500 --> 00:06:00,375 What we're demanding is to live 81 00:06:00,458 --> 00:06:03,541 just like any human being in this world. 82 00:12:12,166 --> 00:12:14,458 I am in detention in Bangkok. 83 00:12:24,333 --> 00:12:27,791 For a honeymoon to be the most drastic event 84 00:12:27,875 --> 00:12:29,000 in your life, 85 00:12:29,083 --> 00:12:32,166 you could imagine what a living nightmare 86 00:12:32,250 --> 00:12:34,083 that the two were going through. 87 00:12:36,083 --> 00:12:40,625 In 2011, I took part in the popular uprising. 88 00:12:43,458 --> 00:12:45,875 And you can see a scar on my forehead. 89 00:12:45,958 --> 00:12:49,000 This is a mark of a shoe by a police officer. 90 00:12:49,083 --> 00:12:51,375 And then for simply speaking up 91 00:12:51,458 --> 00:12:54,125 about what I experienced and what I witnessed, 92 00:12:54,208 --> 00:12:55,875 I was thrown in a prison, 93 00:12:55,958 --> 00:12:58,416 and I was convicted by a military court 94 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:00,291 and I fled and came to the UK. 95 00:13:01,166 --> 00:13:03,583 I thought it would be extremely important 96 00:13:03,666 --> 00:13:06,208 to set up an organisation in London 97 00:13:06,291 --> 00:13:07,625 where it would speak out 98 00:13:07,708 --> 00:13:09,791 about the situation in the country. 99 00:13:14,666 --> 00:13:17,125 The most powerful thing Hakeem had 100 00:13:17,208 --> 00:13:19,500 was his own mobile phone. 101 00:13:19,583 --> 00:13:22,041 I was able to speak to Hakeem directly, 102 00:13:22,125 --> 00:13:24,958 ask him, "Would you be able to send me some pictures?" 103 00:13:31,166 --> 00:13:35,000 I thought a footballer about to be extradited 104 00:13:35,083 --> 00:13:37,083 is an extremely important story, 105 00:13:37,166 --> 00:13:39,333 and my job was to make sure that the whole world 106 00:13:39,416 --> 00:13:41,416 would know about what he was experiencing. 107 00:13:43,875 --> 00:13:45,875 As soon as Hakeem was arrested, 108 00:13:45,958 --> 00:13:47,041 people were getting in touch 109 00:13:47,125 --> 00:13:49,458 from the Bahrain human rights networks. 110 00:13:54,583 --> 00:13:59,125 Hakeem and his wife were met at the gate. 111 00:13:59,208 --> 00:14:02,458 Bahrain had some sort of surveillance on Hakeem 112 00:14:02,541 --> 00:14:03,541 in Australia. 113 00:14:03,625 --> 00:14:06,500 They knew that he was applying for a visa 114 00:14:06,583 --> 00:14:07,625 to go to Thailand. 115 00:14:07,708 --> 00:14:09,791 They knew that they were coming. 116 00:14:10,333 --> 00:14:13,250 Hakeem, unwittingly, had walked into a trap. 117 00:14:14,708 --> 00:14:17,791 The Interpol Red Notice with a photo of Hakeem here, 118 00:14:17,875 --> 00:14:20,500 and it says, "Caution: Dangerous." 119 00:14:21,458 --> 00:14:24,750 One of the core principles of refugee rights 120 00:14:24,833 --> 00:14:27,666 is that you cannot be sent back to a country 121 00:14:27,750 --> 00:14:29,416 where you would face persecution. 122 00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:32,250 But we consistently see regimes will issue 123 00:14:32,333 --> 00:14:36,000 Interpol Red Notices for people who are refugees. 124 00:14:36,083 --> 00:14:39,041 And according to Interpol's own principles, 125 00:14:39,125 --> 00:14:41,750 such Red Notices are supposed to be thrown out. 126 00:14:41,833 --> 00:14:43,083 They are null and void. 127 00:14:45,125 --> 00:14:46,750 So, when I heard that 128 00:14:46,833 --> 00:14:49,666 Australia had formally notified Thailand 129 00:14:49,750 --> 00:14:51,541 of the Red Notice, 130 00:14:51,625 --> 00:14:52,666 I was gobsmacked. 131 00:14:52,750 --> 00:14:54,416 Someone in the Ministry of Home Affairs, 132 00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:58,583 in an incredibly stupid, boneheaded move, 133 00:14:58,666 --> 00:15:00,375 and decided they had to inform the Thais 134 00:15:00,458 --> 00:15:01,583 that he was flying there. 135 00:15:01,666 --> 00:15:03,625 The whole thing was absolutely absurd. 136 00:15:07,625 --> 00:15:08,791 If you can, anyone, 137 00:15:08,875 --> 00:15:11,166 help me to get back to Australia. 138 00:15:11,250 --> 00:15:12,250 I just want to... 139 00:15:12,333 --> 00:15:13,833 Has everyone seen the Red Notice? 140 00:15:13,916 --> 00:15:15,958 Um, so this is the official notice that's been sent around 141 00:15:16,041 --> 00:15:18,083 that actually led to Hakeem's arrest. 142 00:15:18,166 --> 00:15:20,208 The Australian authorities have really messed up 143 00:15:20,291 --> 00:15:22,791 in sending on this illegal document. 144 00:15:22,875 --> 00:15:24,250 So the Interpol Red Notice 145 00:15:24,333 --> 00:15:28,916 was rescinded when Australia notified Interpol 146 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:30,750 that Hakeem had a valid 147 00:15:30,833 --> 00:15:33,208 refugee protection visa in Australia, 148 00:15:33,291 --> 00:15:35,750 which meant that the Thai government 149 00:15:35,833 --> 00:15:38,416 had an obligation to release Hakeem 150 00:15:38,500 --> 00:15:40,958 and let him come back to Australia. 151 00:15:41,041 --> 00:15:42,583 They didn't do that. 152 00:15:42,666 --> 00:15:44,708 Now, this was a really unusual move. 153 00:15:44,791 --> 00:15:46,625 There was no valid legal reason 154 00:15:46,708 --> 00:15:49,541 why they should have kept Hakeem, 155 00:15:49,625 --> 00:15:51,500 and that was when we really became aware 156 00:15:51,583 --> 00:15:53,541 that there was some strong lobbying 157 00:15:53,625 --> 00:15:57,208 from the Bahraini authorities to Thailand directly 158 00:15:57,291 --> 00:16:00,125 for the purpose of extraditing him back to Bahrain. 159 00:16:02,750 --> 00:16:07,375 In 2014, a Bahraini dissident named Ali Haroon 160 00:16:07,458 --> 00:16:09,041 was stuck in Thailand, 161 00:16:09,125 --> 00:16:13,291 and at that time, we attempted to do whatever in our power 162 00:16:13,375 --> 00:16:18,166 to halt his extradition without success. 163 00:16:21,833 --> 00:16:23,708 We know that Ali Haroon fled 164 00:16:23,791 --> 00:16:26,708 after being imprisoned and tortured in 2013 165 00:16:26,791 --> 00:16:27,791 to Thailand. 166 00:16:27,875 --> 00:16:31,125 And the Thai government then arrested him in 2014 167 00:16:31,208 --> 00:16:33,708 and extradited him back to Bahrain. 168 00:16:33,791 --> 00:16:36,291 He was sedated to get onto the aeroplane. 169 00:16:36,375 --> 00:16:37,500 His injuries were so bad 170 00:16:37,583 --> 00:16:39,291 that when he arrived back in Bahrain, 171 00:16:39,375 --> 00:16:40,791 he had to be hospitalised, 172 00:16:40,875 --> 00:16:44,083 and no one has heard of him or been able to visit him 173 00:16:44,166 --> 00:16:46,083 since 2017. 174 00:16:46,166 --> 00:16:47,666 We know that Hakeem would be next. 175 00:16:47,750 --> 00:16:50,250 Hakeem would be subjected to, 176 00:16:50,333 --> 00:16:52,083 if not, like, similar experience, 177 00:16:52,166 --> 00:16:53,166 if not worse. 178 00:16:53,250 --> 00:16:56,666 The risk of him being handed over was so real. 179 00:16:59,750 --> 00:17:02,000 Once Hakeem had been transferred from the airport 180 00:17:02,083 --> 00:17:04,875 to the immigration detention centre in Suan Plu, 181 00:17:04,958 --> 00:17:06,625 he was actually held in an office. 182 00:17:06,708 --> 00:17:09,541 He wasn't put in the general detention population. 183 00:17:09,625 --> 00:17:10,750 And his wife was there too, 184 00:17:10,833 --> 00:17:12,875 and he was able to hold onto his phone. 185 00:17:35,291 --> 00:17:37,625 My biggest concern was that not enough people 186 00:17:37,708 --> 00:17:38,916 knew what was happening 187 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,041 and that if Thailand tried to pull a fast one, 188 00:17:41,125 --> 00:17:43,750 there was going to be some sort of secret deal, 189 00:17:43,833 --> 00:17:45,583 there would be no way we could stop it. 190 00:17:50,750 --> 00:17:51,791 No. 191 00:17:52,875 --> 00:17:55,166 Hakeem Al-Araibi has spent his first nights 192 00:17:55,250 --> 00:17:57,666 in the main remand prison in Bangkok, 193 00:17:57,750 --> 00:17:59,916 after almost two weeks detained at the airport 194 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,166 and an immigration centre. 195 00:18:02,250 --> 00:18:03,875 Hakeem, what's your message? 196 00:18:03,958 --> 00:18:05,083 What do you want to say? 197 00:18:14,208 --> 00:18:15,500 What do you hope happens today? 198 00:18:15,583 --> 00:18:16,791 I don't-- I don't know. 199 00:18:16,875 --> 00:18:17,958 I don't want to go back to Bahrain, 200 00:18:18,041 --> 00:18:19,041 I want to go back to Australia. 201 00:18:19,125 --> 00:18:20,375 I didn't do anything in Bahrain. 202 00:18:20,458 --> 00:18:22,166 I am a refugee in Australia. 203 00:18:22,250 --> 00:18:25,458 I will get citizenship soon in Australia. 204 00:18:25,541 --> 00:18:27,458 I am Australian, not Bahraini. 205 00:18:27,541 --> 00:18:28,708 I didn't do anything. 206 00:18:30,375 --> 00:18:33,625 It's just this vulnerable kid, a footballer. 207 00:18:34,791 --> 00:18:36,041 You know, he's just-- he's a footballer, 208 00:18:36,125 --> 00:18:38,125 he's the same as me, 209 00:18:38,541 --> 00:18:40,333 just with a different passport. 210 00:18:42,333 --> 00:18:45,500 And here he is with a whole country 211 00:18:45,583 --> 00:18:50,208 trying to pull this kid back where he'd been tortured. 212 00:18:50,833 --> 00:18:53,083 And he's facing torture again. 213 00:18:53,166 --> 00:18:55,500 And I just couldn't believe it. 214 00:18:55,583 --> 00:18:57,083 Please stop them. 215 00:18:59,875 --> 00:19:01,208 Keep going, keep going. 216 00:19:01,291 --> 00:19:03,416 Chase him, chase him. It's still yours. 217 00:19:07,083 --> 00:19:09,916 We're blessed in Australia, playing football, 218 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,791 because it's such a diverse game. 219 00:19:13,875 --> 00:19:16,333 Since the age of probably fifteen, 220 00:19:16,416 --> 00:19:19,041 when I started to move into our junior national teams, 221 00:19:19,125 --> 00:19:24,041 I was in a mix of Australians of every ethnicity, 222 00:19:24,125 --> 00:19:26,250 every religion, every culture 223 00:19:26,333 --> 00:19:28,125 and that's really a gift. 224 00:19:28,541 --> 00:19:30,750 No one could believe that this team came from 225 00:19:30,833 --> 00:19:33,833 some unknown soccer nation called Australia. 226 00:19:35,166 --> 00:19:38,208 The game just places us in the middle 227 00:19:38,291 --> 00:19:40,875 of this melting pot of cultures. 228 00:19:40,958 --> 00:19:45,250 That's been central to developing my world view. 229 00:19:47,416 --> 00:19:49,833 Here's Aloisi for a place in the World Cup. 230 00:19:49,916 --> 00:19:52,041 He scores! 231 00:19:52,125 --> 00:19:54,375 - Australia have done it! - Come on! 232 00:19:54,458 --> 00:19:56,333 Come on, Australia! 233 00:19:57,541 --> 00:19:58,750 This is what it's about. 234 00:19:58,833 --> 00:20:00,958 The tension and the passion. 235 00:20:01,041 --> 00:20:02,583 Good morning, everyone, I'm Craig Foster, 236 00:20:02,666 --> 00:20:04,333 SBS's chief football analyst. 237 00:20:04,416 --> 00:20:06,333 With twenty years in the media 238 00:20:06,416 --> 00:20:08,958 and the profile I had in the game in Australia, 239 00:20:09,041 --> 00:20:13,166 I knew that I had a range of skills 240 00:20:13,250 --> 00:20:14,625 that could help him. 241 00:20:14,708 --> 00:20:19,750 So, I went through the history of Bahraini activism 242 00:20:19,833 --> 00:20:22,875 and human rights abuse against athletes. 243 00:20:22,958 --> 00:20:24,083 The more reading I did, 244 00:20:24,166 --> 00:20:26,333 I knew that he was in deep, deep trouble. 245 00:20:28,625 --> 00:20:31,125 It's clear that something is very, very foul. 246 00:20:34,958 --> 00:20:37,041 Gianni Infantino from Switzerland 247 00:20:37,125 --> 00:20:38,208 is one of the favourites 248 00:20:38,291 --> 00:20:41,791 to become FIFA's first new president in eighteen years. 249 00:20:41,875 --> 00:20:43,666 Of course I'm confident. 250 00:20:43,750 --> 00:20:45,291 Sheikh Salman from Bahrain 251 00:20:45,375 --> 00:20:46,708 is the other frontrunner. 252 00:20:46,791 --> 00:20:49,083 I'm very confident. Very confident. 253 00:20:49,166 --> 00:20:50,541 Though human rights groups claim 254 00:20:50,625 --> 00:20:53,041 he had local soccer players arrested 255 00:20:53,125 --> 00:20:55,958 following pro-democracy protests. 256 00:20:56,041 --> 00:20:59,125 Basically, a member of Bahraini ruling family, 257 00:20:59,208 --> 00:21:00,750 Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa, 258 00:21:00,833 --> 00:21:02,500 nominated himself to be elected 259 00:21:02,583 --> 00:21:04,333 as the FIFA president. 260 00:21:04,958 --> 00:21:07,291 At the time when Hakeem was arrested in Bahrain 261 00:21:07,375 --> 00:21:08,958 and subjected to torture, 262 00:21:09,041 --> 00:21:10,666 he was the president 263 00:21:10,750 --> 00:21:12,833 of Bahrain Football Associations. 264 00:21:13,958 --> 00:21:18,791 During 2011, Prince Nasser mandated Sheikh Salman 265 00:21:18,875 --> 00:21:20,791 to be in charge of the committee 266 00:21:20,875 --> 00:21:23,333 which will come after those athletes 267 00:21:23,416 --> 00:21:26,333 which has stood up against the government, 268 00:21:26,416 --> 00:21:30,041 and it was not long before those players 269 00:21:30,125 --> 00:21:32,250 were picked up, and they were subjected 270 00:21:32,333 --> 00:21:33,958 to brutal torture. 271 00:21:34,416 --> 00:21:37,125 This is the man who is going to be in charge 272 00:21:37,208 --> 00:21:38,875 of leading FIFA. 273 00:21:40,541 --> 00:21:43,791 All of a sudden, there was massive media interest 274 00:21:43,875 --> 00:21:45,458 about Bahrain as a subject 275 00:21:45,541 --> 00:21:48,416 because of Sheikh Salman's nomination. 276 00:21:48,500 --> 00:21:51,458 So, back in 2016, 277 00:21:51,541 --> 00:21:55,208 I was trying to find someone who could tell us 278 00:21:55,291 --> 00:21:57,666 what it means to be a footballer 279 00:21:57,750 --> 00:21:59,875 under Salman's leadership, 280 00:21:59,958 --> 00:22:02,958 and I was told that there is this guy 281 00:22:03,041 --> 00:22:05,333 who's currently in Australia. 282 00:22:06,458 --> 00:22:08,708 Hakeem Al-Araibi used to play 283 00:22:08,791 --> 00:22:10,291 for Bahrain's national team. 284 00:22:10,375 --> 00:22:12,166 He was arrested during the crackdown 285 00:22:12,250 --> 00:22:13,583 that followed the uprising. 286 00:22:40,708 --> 00:22:42,625 He was the first person to say 287 00:22:42,708 --> 00:22:45,208 Sheikh Salman failed to protect 288 00:22:45,291 --> 00:22:46,791 footballers in Bahrain. 289 00:22:52,958 --> 00:22:55,166 It was reported on page one 290 00:22:55,250 --> 00:22:56,958 on The New York Times. 291 00:22:58,708 --> 00:23:01,333 This is a story that hit headlines 292 00:23:01,416 --> 00:23:02,750 across the globe. 293 00:23:05,208 --> 00:23:07,125 First of all, when you say tortured, 294 00:23:07,208 --> 00:23:09,208 I think allegedly tortured. 295 00:23:09,291 --> 00:23:13,208 These are false, you know, nasty lies 296 00:23:13,291 --> 00:23:15,500 that has been repeated again and again. 297 00:23:22,166 --> 00:23:24,708 Surely, on a basic level, as the head 298 00:23:24,791 --> 00:23:26,458 of the National Association, 299 00:23:26,541 --> 00:23:28,708 you have failed those footballers. 300 00:23:28,791 --> 00:23:32,750 They were simply displaying their political viewpoint. 301 00:23:32,833 --> 00:23:37,041 You cannot accept somebody coming to you 302 00:23:37,125 --> 00:23:39,416 and accusing you of things that you haven't done, 303 00:23:39,500 --> 00:23:41,500 and they're just repeating it again and again. 304 00:23:49,250 --> 00:23:51,208 More than two hundred football associations 305 00:23:51,291 --> 00:23:53,583 from around the world have gathered in Zurich 306 00:23:53,666 --> 00:23:55,625 to vote in the next FIFA President. 307 00:23:55,708 --> 00:23:58,833 Stop supporting Salman! 308 00:23:58,916 --> 00:24:01,000 Stop supporting Salman! 309 00:24:01,083 --> 00:24:03,291 Stop supporting Salman! 310 00:24:03,375 --> 00:24:04,500 Since 2011, 311 00:24:04,583 --> 00:24:06,041 we've had more than one hundred and fifty athletes 312 00:24:06,125 --> 00:24:07,541 arrested and imprisoned, 313 00:24:07,625 --> 00:24:09,625 and so we're looking at a long time issue 314 00:24:09,708 --> 00:24:12,208 with the Bahraini government going after athletes 315 00:24:12,291 --> 00:24:13,875 as a part of the crackdown against democracy 316 00:24:13,958 --> 00:24:15,083 and human rights. 317 00:24:15,166 --> 00:24:17,625 And so, if Sheikh Salman is elected here today, 318 00:24:17,708 --> 00:24:19,875 what kind of message is FIFA sending 319 00:24:19,958 --> 00:24:22,000 about the integrity of FIFA? 320 00:24:24,583 --> 00:24:27,333 This was the moment Gianni Infantino 321 00:24:27,416 --> 00:24:29,916 became the new face of world soccer. 322 00:24:33,916 --> 00:24:37,291 Sheikh Salman from Bahrain came in second. 323 00:24:37,375 --> 00:24:39,125 - Pardon? - Are you disappointed... 324 00:24:39,208 --> 00:24:40,708 Oh, no, no, no, no, I think, you know, 325 00:24:40,791 --> 00:24:42,666 this is sports, this is fair play, 326 00:24:42,750 --> 00:24:45,041 and we have to show it inside and outside. 327 00:24:45,125 --> 00:24:46,791 All the best for him, thank you. 328 00:26:07,458 --> 00:26:09,750 Hakeem Al-Araibi has spent his first nights 329 00:26:09,833 --> 00:26:12,208 in the main remand prison in Bangkok. 330 00:26:12,291 --> 00:26:14,583 In the next sixty days, a court will start deciding 331 00:26:14,666 --> 00:26:16,875 whether to extradite him to Bahrain, 332 00:26:16,958 --> 00:26:18,125 the country he fled, 333 00:26:18,208 --> 00:26:20,375 or return him to Australia. 334 00:26:20,458 --> 00:26:22,208 He was clearly left behind 335 00:26:22,291 --> 00:26:24,000 by his own country. 336 00:26:24,083 --> 00:26:26,958 I felt that he was being left behind by Australia now. 337 00:26:27,041 --> 00:26:29,041 Was I into football? No. 338 00:26:29,125 --> 00:26:31,708 Um, was I interested? 339 00:26:31,791 --> 00:26:33,166 Not even a little bit. 340 00:26:35,041 --> 00:26:37,541 I've come from Bosnia. I'm a refugee myself. 341 00:26:38,291 --> 00:26:40,291 So I sort of had that connection 342 00:26:40,375 --> 00:26:43,166 where I knew he left his home already. 343 00:26:43,250 --> 00:26:44,875 He's got his whole future in front of him, 344 00:26:44,958 --> 00:26:47,333 and all of a sudden, he finds himself detained 345 00:26:47,416 --> 00:26:49,791 while having protection from Australia. 346 00:26:50,333 --> 00:26:52,458 And then I went on Twitter looking, 347 00:26:52,958 --> 00:26:55,833 hoping that I could maybe find somebody talking about it. 348 00:27:06,458 --> 00:27:08,125 In those early weeks, 349 00:27:08,208 --> 00:27:11,250 you had Sayed starting to become vocal. 350 00:27:11,333 --> 00:27:14,166 Different organisations here and globally, 351 00:27:14,250 --> 00:27:16,958 they were used to what was going on here. 352 00:27:17,041 --> 00:27:18,125 Bahrain, you know, 353 00:27:18,208 --> 00:27:20,125 were serial offenders in this regard, 354 00:27:20,208 --> 00:27:21,416 so I was in touch with them, 355 00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:24,083 just trying to work out, what could I do. 356 00:27:26,625 --> 00:27:28,958 When we first tweeted about Hakeem, 357 00:27:29,041 --> 00:27:32,541 what is the hashtag that I need to use? 358 00:27:32,625 --> 00:27:35,125 I tried to come up quickly with something. 359 00:27:35,208 --> 00:27:36,791 #SaveHakeem. 360 00:27:36,875 --> 00:27:38,875 Fatima and ourselves came up with that 361 00:27:38,958 --> 00:27:41,708 because we felt social media is the only way 362 00:27:41,791 --> 00:27:44,166 that we can get this happening. 363 00:27:44,250 --> 00:27:46,666 Hi, I'm Vitale Ferrante, I'm Hakeem's coach. 364 00:27:46,750 --> 00:27:49,375 All of Australia, we've got to get behind #SaveHakeem. 365 00:27:49,458 --> 00:27:52,000 Please, help us to bring him back to Australia. 366 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,625 ...three! Save Hakeem! 367 00:27:55,708 --> 00:27:57,958 I had never really used social media 368 00:27:58,041 --> 00:28:00,125 in any great degree, so I was just 369 00:28:00,208 --> 00:28:02,541 making it up, really, as I went along. 370 00:28:03,791 --> 00:28:05,166 It seemed for weeks 371 00:28:05,250 --> 00:28:07,333 all the same names kept popping up, 372 00:28:07,416 --> 00:28:10,666 so we all started sort of helping each other out. 373 00:28:11,791 --> 00:28:14,000 Hakeem is extraordinarily brave, 374 00:28:14,083 --> 00:28:16,875 and for trying to shed light on 375 00:28:16,958 --> 00:28:18,708 the torture of people in Bahrain, 376 00:28:18,791 --> 00:28:21,000 they chased him across the globe. 377 00:28:21,083 --> 00:28:24,250 We're doing it because it's unfair on him. 378 00:28:24,333 --> 00:28:26,125 Bahrain trying to, you know, 379 00:28:26,208 --> 00:28:27,750 punish someone who embarrassed them. 380 00:28:27,833 --> 00:28:29,291 It's almost unheard of 381 00:28:29,375 --> 00:28:31,458 for an extradition request in Bangkok 382 00:28:31,541 --> 00:28:32,666 not to be granted. 383 00:28:32,750 --> 00:28:34,708 People like Hakeem Al-Araibi who face 384 00:28:34,791 --> 00:28:36,708 extradition proceedings of this kind, 385 00:28:36,791 --> 00:28:38,958 the vast majority, if not all of them, 386 00:28:39,041 --> 00:28:40,625 do end up being extradited. 387 00:28:40,708 --> 00:28:43,125 He could not end up in Bahrain. 388 00:28:43,208 --> 00:28:45,333 Like, that was a death sentence. 389 00:28:45,791 --> 00:28:48,291 We were starting to see names becoming familiar 390 00:28:48,375 --> 00:28:50,125 who are tweeting about the same thing, 391 00:28:50,208 --> 00:28:51,333 trying to raise awareness. 392 00:28:51,416 --> 00:28:52,791 We kept retweeting each other, 393 00:28:52,875 --> 00:28:56,333 and... just to keep it going and trying to get this hashtag 394 00:28:56,416 --> 00:28:58,458 to sort of get a life of its own. 395 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:03,708 I started to see that people were sharing his story 396 00:29:03,791 --> 00:29:05,416 and supporting me. 397 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:07,791 "Craig, we're with you, tell us what to do." 398 00:29:07,875 --> 00:29:10,125 You know, "How can we help?" 399 00:29:10,208 --> 00:29:11,541 Craig gets in touch 400 00:29:11,625 --> 00:29:14,000 and just pops random people together in a group 401 00:29:14,083 --> 00:29:16,166 and said, "You're our social media team." 402 00:29:22,041 --> 00:29:26,375 I think he did actually act as a coach to the team 403 00:29:26,458 --> 00:29:28,875 and he guided us as to where he wanted us to go, 404 00:29:28,958 --> 00:29:30,375 and where to take the attention to. 405 00:29:32,958 --> 00:29:34,708 At the moment not many people know about it, 406 00:29:34,791 --> 00:29:37,166 and I guess if we can leverage public sentiment 407 00:29:37,250 --> 00:29:38,583 and get people involved, 408 00:29:38,666 --> 00:29:40,375 it's a pretty compelling story. 409 00:29:40,458 --> 00:29:43,958 A young man on his honeymoon with his wife, new wife. 410 00:29:44,041 --> 00:29:46,541 Part of the challenge is Hakeem is a Muslim, 411 00:29:46,625 --> 00:29:48,125 uh, he's a refugee, 412 00:29:48,208 --> 00:29:50,333 and they're things that are potentially not very appealing 413 00:29:50,416 --> 00:29:52,250 to the Australian community at the moment. 414 00:29:52,333 --> 00:29:56,708 Some components of his story and his life 415 00:29:56,791 --> 00:30:01,083 meant that he was less likely to get the support 416 00:30:01,166 --> 00:30:02,625 both of the Australian government 417 00:30:02,708 --> 00:30:05,083 and I think probably of the Australian people. 418 00:30:05,166 --> 00:30:06,583 Refugees in the last twenty years 419 00:30:06,666 --> 00:30:08,166 have been incredibly demonised. 420 00:30:08,250 --> 00:30:11,041 If you travel by boat without a visa, 421 00:30:11,125 --> 00:30:13,291 you will not make Australia home. 422 00:30:13,375 --> 00:30:15,541 People weren't taking this as seriously. 423 00:30:15,625 --> 00:30:16,875 They were like, "Eh, who's this, 424 00:30:16,958 --> 00:30:19,916 this Muslim, you know, refugee. 425 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:21,416 How is that our problem?" 426 00:30:22,166 --> 00:30:24,250 People are not going to come and get him 427 00:30:24,333 --> 00:30:26,041 simply because he's a refugee. 428 00:30:26,125 --> 00:30:27,625 People are not going to come and get him 429 00:30:27,708 --> 00:30:31,291 just because he's a Bahraini who's been tortured. 430 00:30:31,375 --> 00:30:34,708 People might come and help him and speak out for him, 431 00:30:34,791 --> 00:30:37,083 and we might have a chance, a slim chance, 432 00:30:37,583 --> 00:30:39,291 if we can activate sport. 433 00:30:39,375 --> 00:30:41,666 Finally, belatedly. 434 00:30:41,750 --> 00:30:42,916 Now, the football angle 435 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:44,041 was a really interesting one 436 00:30:44,125 --> 00:30:47,500 because sport is like a religion in Australia. 437 00:30:47,583 --> 00:30:49,583 And his legend grows. 438 00:30:50,541 --> 00:30:51,916 He's going to need 439 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,666 football to come to his rescue. 440 00:33:05,666 --> 00:33:07,791 On behalf of Hakeem's wife, 441 00:33:07,875 --> 00:33:10,500 I am here to submit the letter 442 00:33:10,583 --> 00:33:13,375 to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha 443 00:33:13,458 --> 00:33:16,625 and ask him, please, to release Hakeem 444 00:33:16,708 --> 00:33:18,375 on humanitarian grounds. 445 00:33:54,125 --> 00:33:56,083 Really scary things happening in Thailand. 446 00:33:56,166 --> 00:33:57,958 Hakeem's wife keeps calling in tears 447 00:33:58,041 --> 00:34:00,250 thinking he's been put on a plane to Bahrain. 448 00:34:00,333 --> 00:34:01,583 The last dissident, Ali Haroon, 449 00:34:01,666 --> 00:34:02,875 was tortured on the plane, 450 00:34:02,958 --> 00:34:04,291 so this is very serious. 451 00:34:04,375 --> 00:34:05,375 Minky. 452 00:34:09,833 --> 00:34:12,291 My reaction was, we have to mobilise 453 00:34:12,375 --> 00:34:14,750 the Sport and Rights Alliance, we have to mobilise 454 00:34:14,833 --> 00:34:16,625 international human rights community. 455 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:22,916 Many of the Gulf countries, 456 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:26,666 Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, 457 00:34:26,750 --> 00:34:31,000 they really want to be part of the world community, 458 00:34:31,083 --> 00:34:33,583 but they don't want to reform their human rights practices. 459 00:34:33,666 --> 00:34:38,625 In Bahrain, after 2011, after the Arab Spring, 460 00:34:38,708 --> 00:34:40,333 it was very interesting how the government 461 00:34:40,416 --> 00:34:43,708 attempted to rehabilitate its image through sports. 462 00:34:43,791 --> 00:34:46,500 It's the Bahrain Grand Prix, 463 00:34:46,583 --> 00:34:48,916 and it's lights out, and away we go! 464 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:53,458 Sport can be used to provide a cover 465 00:34:53,541 --> 00:34:56,916 for some of the most egregious and threatening undertakings 466 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:00,333 in the history of modern society. 467 00:35:20,958 --> 00:35:23,708 Sportswashing lets some of the world's 468 00:35:23,791 --> 00:35:27,208 worst human rights abusers rub elbows 469 00:35:27,291 --> 00:35:29,125 with the international sports community 470 00:35:29,208 --> 00:35:32,833 to make your country look like a member in good standing 471 00:35:32,916 --> 00:35:35,041 of the international community. 472 00:35:35,833 --> 00:35:37,416 We actually had a situation where 473 00:35:37,500 --> 00:35:38,666 mega sporting events, 474 00:35:38,750 --> 00:35:41,500 such as the Olympic Games and the World Cup, 475 00:35:41,583 --> 00:35:44,916 were being associated with human rights atrocities. 476 00:35:58,750 --> 00:36:02,083 The 2022 FIFA World Cup 477 00:36:02,166 --> 00:36:04,166 is Qatar. 478 00:36:07,166 --> 00:36:10,833 Qatar was a tipping point in many ways. 479 00:36:10,916 --> 00:36:15,625 There had to be the mass migration of workers 480 00:36:15,708 --> 00:36:17,625 to undertake the scale of construction 481 00:36:17,708 --> 00:36:19,083 which the bid required. 482 00:36:19,875 --> 00:36:22,125 These men have to work in temperatures 483 00:36:22,208 --> 00:36:24,375 exceeding 50 degrees Celsius. 484 00:36:24,458 --> 00:36:25,625 Amnesty International 485 00:36:25,708 --> 00:36:27,791 has described it as the World Cup of shame. 486 00:36:27,875 --> 00:36:30,083 It's likened the conditions of the workers there 487 00:36:30,166 --> 00:36:31,666 to slavery. 488 00:36:31,750 --> 00:36:35,583 So FIFA had no human rights policy 489 00:36:35,666 --> 00:36:37,333 because they don't want to give up 490 00:36:37,416 --> 00:36:40,291 their wealthy, abusive partners. 491 00:36:40,375 --> 00:36:41,750 For nearly a decade, 492 00:36:41,833 --> 00:36:43,458 Russia and Qatar have been suspected 493 00:36:43,541 --> 00:36:44,625 of buying votes 494 00:36:44,708 --> 00:36:46,833 to win hosting rights for the 2018 495 00:36:46,916 --> 00:36:48,291 and 2022 World Cups. 496 00:36:48,375 --> 00:36:51,083 According to the Department of Justice here, 497 00:36:51,166 --> 00:36:53,833 it was an example of a multi-billion-dollar business 498 00:36:53,916 --> 00:36:56,208 operating not as a sports governing body, 499 00:36:56,291 --> 00:36:59,166 but as a corrupt criminal enterprise. 500 00:36:59,250 --> 00:37:00,625 Now, the fourteen defendants 501 00:37:00,708 --> 00:37:03,541 charged in the indictment we are unsealing today 502 00:37:03,625 --> 00:37:06,041 include high-ranking officials of FIFA. 503 00:37:06,125 --> 00:37:09,875 This really is the World Cup of fraud. 504 00:37:09,958 --> 00:37:11,333 This event called the World Cup, 505 00:37:11,416 --> 00:37:13,416 one of the great sports events of the world, 506 00:37:13,500 --> 00:37:18,791 is now mired in corruption and human rights abuse. 507 00:37:18,875 --> 00:37:20,333 But one whistle-blower says 508 00:37:20,416 --> 00:37:22,625 Qatar only did what was needed 509 00:37:22,708 --> 00:37:25,708 when dealing with FIFA's culture of corruption. 510 00:37:26,875 --> 00:37:28,791 More people will die 511 00:37:29,166 --> 00:37:31,125 in the building of the football stadiums 512 00:37:31,208 --> 00:37:32,666 for the World Cup in 2022 513 00:37:32,750 --> 00:37:34,166 than players will play. 514 00:37:38,208 --> 00:37:40,208 Six and a half thousand people 515 00:37:40,291 --> 00:37:41,458 have lost their lives 516 00:37:41,541 --> 00:37:43,125 in relation to construction efforts 517 00:37:43,208 --> 00:37:44,583 around the World Cup. 518 00:37:45,708 --> 00:37:48,000 And so FIFA knew it had to act 519 00:37:48,083 --> 00:37:51,583 not really out of any sense of human rights concern, 520 00:37:51,666 --> 00:37:53,208 but in order to preserve 521 00:37:53,291 --> 00:37:55,166 the very essence of its business. 522 00:37:55,250 --> 00:37:57,208 And so in 2016, 523 00:37:57,291 --> 00:38:00,416 it adopted a human rights policy. 524 00:38:00,500 --> 00:38:03,166 Knowing that FIFA had passed these rules, 525 00:38:03,250 --> 00:38:06,458 the first thing I wanted to do was talk with Hakeem 526 00:38:06,541 --> 00:38:08,750 before they took away his cell phone. 527 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,583 Do you know FIFA has a human rights policy? 528 00:38:19,666 --> 00:38:21,500 Rights on paper are meaningless 529 00:38:21,583 --> 00:38:24,000 unless they're tested and implemented. 530 00:38:24,083 --> 00:38:28,000 That was the question that Hakeem's case posed. 531 00:38:28,083 --> 00:38:30,208 Could FIFA, with a new president, 532 00:38:30,291 --> 00:38:32,166 actually do the right thing? 533 00:38:34,791 --> 00:38:36,708 It was imperative we saved Hakeem 534 00:38:36,791 --> 00:38:39,000 for Hakeem the human being 535 00:38:39,083 --> 00:38:42,291 and for the billions of people 536 00:38:42,375 --> 00:38:44,125 whose human rights are affected 537 00:38:44,208 --> 00:38:45,708 by the conduct of sport. 538 00:38:46,375 --> 00:38:47,958 If we were going to prevent any of this 539 00:38:48,041 --> 00:38:49,291 from happening again, 540 00:38:49,375 --> 00:38:50,750 then we had to save Hakeem. 541 00:39:14,958 --> 00:39:17,708 Hakeem being an Australian footballer, 542 00:39:17,791 --> 00:39:21,000 the first steps that he needed from support from the sport 543 00:39:21,083 --> 00:39:22,708 was the Australian Football Federation, 544 00:39:22,791 --> 00:39:25,458 which is part of the Asian Football Confederation. 545 00:39:25,541 --> 00:39:27,291 It gives me great pleasure to welcome 546 00:39:27,375 --> 00:39:28,666 the honourable President 547 00:39:28,750 --> 00:39:30,833 of the Asian Football Confederation, 548 00:39:30,916 --> 00:39:32,666 His Excellency, Sheikh Salman. 549 00:39:36,375 --> 00:39:38,208 Salman was running Asia, 550 00:39:39,458 --> 00:39:40,958 and was the right-hand man 551 00:39:41,041 --> 00:39:43,250 and had the ear of Infantino at FIFA. 552 00:39:45,125 --> 00:39:46,750 This guy was going to be expected 553 00:39:46,833 --> 00:39:48,250 to actually step forward and help him. 554 00:39:51,666 --> 00:39:53,208 The greatest football show 555 00:39:53,291 --> 00:39:55,458 on the continent is underway. 556 00:39:55,541 --> 00:39:57,000 It was hugely fortuitous that 557 00:39:57,083 --> 00:39:58,666 the Asian Cup was at that time 558 00:39:58,750 --> 00:40:00,333 when this kid is sitting in jail. 559 00:40:01,375 --> 00:40:03,208 "Dear Sir, I write to you as a member 560 00:40:03,291 --> 00:40:04,875 of the Australian football family 561 00:40:04,958 --> 00:40:07,500 regarding my football brother, Hakeem Al-Araibi. 562 00:40:07,583 --> 00:40:09,458 As President of the AFC, 563 00:40:09,541 --> 00:40:11,250 will you issue an immediate statement 564 00:40:11,333 --> 00:40:12,458 on behalf of the AFC 565 00:40:12,541 --> 00:40:14,500 calling for Hakeem Al-Araibi's release?" 566 00:40:14,583 --> 00:40:17,166 Big opportunity now, Al Hammadi! 567 00:40:17,250 --> 00:40:19,416 "The position of AFC President now carries 568 00:40:19,500 --> 00:40:22,875 a non-negotiable obligation to do everything possible 569 00:40:22,958 --> 00:40:26,875 to uphold the human rights of all in football." 570 00:40:26,958 --> 00:40:29,000 And a penalty's been given. 571 00:40:29,083 --> 00:40:32,000 That quite new FIFA human rights policy 572 00:40:32,083 --> 00:40:35,166 became the wonderful opportunity, in a way, 573 00:40:35,250 --> 00:40:39,875 to obligate Infantino and FIFA and AFC to act. 574 00:40:39,958 --> 00:40:43,916 And so, writing to Salman just puts him on notice 575 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:45,750 and it also puts all of the people 576 00:40:45,833 --> 00:40:47,958 getting involved in the campaign on notice 577 00:40:48,041 --> 00:40:49,333 that that's where we're headed. 578 00:40:49,416 --> 00:40:51,458 This is about taking on the biggest powers 579 00:40:51,541 --> 00:40:52,791 in world football. 580 00:40:53,958 --> 00:40:55,208 Full-time whistle sounds 581 00:40:55,291 --> 00:40:58,125 in the opening game of the 2019 Asian Cup. 582 00:41:00,416 --> 00:41:03,250 Save Hakeem! Save Hakeem! 583 00:41:03,333 --> 00:41:05,000 Thank you, everyone, for coming today 584 00:41:05,083 --> 00:41:09,041 for the solidarity protest in support of Hakeem Al-Araibi 585 00:41:09,333 --> 00:41:11,375 and to call on the Thai government 586 00:41:11,458 --> 00:41:13,750 to release Hakeem immediately, 587 00:41:13,833 --> 00:41:15,916 particularly today, with a bilateral meeting 588 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:18,583 with our Foreign Minister, Marise Payne. 589 00:41:19,291 --> 00:41:20,916 We knew that Marise Payne 590 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:23,708 was going to visit her counterpart in Thailand. 591 00:41:23,791 --> 00:41:26,250 This was one of the highest escalations, 592 00:41:26,333 --> 00:41:28,875 diplomatically, that a country can take. 593 00:41:28,958 --> 00:41:32,375 So the purpose of having that protest at the same time 594 00:41:32,458 --> 00:41:33,958 was really to ramp up the pressure 595 00:41:34,041 --> 00:41:35,166 on the Thai government 596 00:41:35,250 --> 00:41:38,208 who were able to send Hakeem home at any moment. 597 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:41,791 We had really high hopes that Marise Payne's visit 598 00:41:41,875 --> 00:41:44,583 would result in a positive outcome for Hakeem. 599 00:41:45,500 --> 00:41:47,375 We're also calling on the 600 00:41:47,458 --> 00:41:49,583 AFC, Asian Football Confederation, 601 00:41:49,666 --> 00:41:51,541 to publicly support Hakeem. 602 00:41:52,291 --> 00:41:55,500 So, away we go, with Bahrain all in red 603 00:41:55,583 --> 00:41:57,375 as Bahrain face Thailand. 604 00:41:57,458 --> 00:42:00,041 We're also calling on the president of the AFC, 605 00:42:00,125 --> 00:42:02,500 Sheikh Salman, to support Hakeem Al-Araibi, 606 00:42:02,583 --> 00:42:04,000 to make a public statement. 607 00:42:04,083 --> 00:42:05,750 The silence of over six weeks 608 00:42:05,833 --> 00:42:07,291 of the Asian Football Confederation 609 00:42:07,375 --> 00:42:08,958 is completely unacceptable. 610 00:42:09,041 --> 00:42:10,166 This could go. 611 00:42:10,250 --> 00:42:12,208 Trying to tip it right, and he's scoring! 612 00:42:12,291 --> 00:42:14,125 It's a super finish! 613 00:42:15,250 --> 00:42:16,375 The Thai government 614 00:42:16,458 --> 00:42:18,000 is most certainly aware 615 00:42:18,083 --> 00:42:22,208 of the importance of this matter to Australia. 616 00:42:22,291 --> 00:42:25,291 I do note that there are legal proceedings underway 617 00:42:25,375 --> 00:42:27,750 in relation to Mr. Al-Araibi, 618 00:42:27,833 --> 00:42:31,041 and Australia will continue to be in very close contact 619 00:42:31,125 --> 00:42:34,291 with Thai authorities in relation to this. 620 00:42:34,375 --> 00:42:37,125 We received word that Marise Payne's visit 621 00:42:37,208 --> 00:42:38,708 had not been a success, 622 00:42:38,791 --> 00:42:41,041 and this was a significant blow 623 00:42:41,125 --> 00:42:42,500 for the campaign. 624 00:42:44,000 --> 00:42:45,125 We're certainly concerned 625 00:42:45,208 --> 00:42:48,041 about why the Thai government is prioritising 626 00:42:48,125 --> 00:42:50,416 its relationship with the Kingdom of Bahrain 627 00:42:50,500 --> 00:42:53,291 over its relationship with Australia. 628 00:42:53,375 --> 00:42:54,875 So why is that happening? 629 00:42:54,958 --> 00:42:58,833 What is the relationship between Thailand and Bahrain? 630 00:42:58,916 --> 00:43:01,583 All of these questions, you know, are bubbling up, 631 00:43:01,666 --> 00:43:03,583 and no one had the answers. 632 00:43:37,875 --> 00:43:40,250 Hakeem's wife consistently asked 633 00:43:40,333 --> 00:43:42,458 to remain anonymous throughout the campaign 634 00:43:42,541 --> 00:43:44,708 because she feared for her own life 635 00:43:44,791 --> 00:43:48,666 and the lives and security of her family back in Bahrain, 636 00:43:48,750 --> 00:43:50,958 but she was his greatest advocate. 637 00:43:52,291 --> 00:43:56,041 Hakeem's wife came to Sydney from Melbourne, 638 00:43:56,750 --> 00:44:00,000 and seeing her there in person-- 639 00:44:00,083 --> 00:44:04,416 a devastated, traumatised young wife, 640 00:44:04,500 --> 00:44:07,041 sitting down in front of me and asking me, basically, 641 00:44:07,125 --> 00:44:08,458 to save her husband. 642 00:44:08,541 --> 00:44:11,291 And I responded and said, 643 00:44:11,375 --> 00:44:13,416 "You know, I'm doing everything I can." 644 00:44:13,500 --> 00:44:17,083 She said, "Will you save my husband?" 645 00:44:17,166 --> 00:44:19,000 And I was explaining, 646 00:44:19,083 --> 00:44:21,041 you know, the steps I was taking, 647 00:44:21,583 --> 00:44:24,416 and she just kind of stopped me and said, 648 00:44:25,166 --> 00:44:27,541 "Will you save my husband?" 649 00:44:27,625 --> 00:44:29,666 You know, and, um... 650 00:44:34,750 --> 00:44:36,125 Yeah... 651 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:41,125 I just got the sense in that moment 652 00:44:41,208 --> 00:44:43,750 that this was more important than anything. 653 00:44:44,625 --> 00:44:48,208 Unless I really did something, you know, proper, 654 00:44:48,875 --> 00:44:51,166 she was going to lose her husband. 655 00:44:51,250 --> 00:44:52,916 You know? 656 00:44:56,583 --> 00:44:58,166 Craig's going to go to Bangkok, 657 00:44:58,250 --> 00:45:00,500 and we obviously need to be quite mindful 658 00:45:00,583 --> 00:45:02,791 of his security when he gets there. 659 00:45:02,875 --> 00:45:04,208 Obviously, we're dealing with 660 00:45:04,291 --> 00:45:06,166 a military dictatorship in Thailand, 661 00:45:06,250 --> 00:45:08,666 there's quite strong laws about people speaking out, 662 00:45:08,750 --> 00:45:10,250 particularly about the Royal Family 663 00:45:10,333 --> 00:45:11,708 or the government there. 664 00:45:11,791 --> 00:45:12,916 There may be a situation where 665 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:15,708 Craig has to get out of Thailand very quickly. 666 00:45:17,958 --> 00:45:20,083 "And so we'll prepare an escape plan. 667 00:45:20,166 --> 00:45:21,416 We'll get you on a train. 668 00:45:21,500 --> 00:45:23,708 We'll get you over one of the several borders. 669 00:45:23,791 --> 00:45:25,041 We've done it before." 670 00:45:26,125 --> 00:45:27,833 And that's when it started to get a bit worrying. 671 00:45:32,458 --> 00:45:37,250 The next day, my daughter actually came inside 672 00:45:37,333 --> 00:45:39,208 and said, 673 00:45:39,291 --> 00:45:41,458 "There's a car across the road, 674 00:45:41,541 --> 00:45:43,250 and people are watching the house." 675 00:45:44,708 --> 00:45:47,416 I went outside, approached the car... 676 00:45:49,166 --> 00:45:51,208 ...and they went off. 677 00:45:52,583 --> 00:45:55,166 I was planning to leave in three or four days. 678 00:45:55,250 --> 00:45:56,791 Now, you know, we've got people 679 00:45:56,875 --> 00:45:59,416 outside the house watching our family. 680 00:46:00,041 --> 00:46:02,166 What happens if I go abroad 681 00:46:02,250 --> 00:46:04,041 and then something happens here? 682 00:46:04,833 --> 00:46:08,916 I was never quite sure if it was the right decision. 683 00:46:23,791 --> 00:46:25,666 You went to see him yesterday? 684 00:46:25,750 --> 00:46:27,541 He's tired, he's deflated, 685 00:46:27,625 --> 00:46:28,625 and he's ready to come home. 686 00:46:28,708 --> 00:46:30,333 But, um, I think just... 687 00:46:30,416 --> 00:46:32,083 I mean, try as much as possible 688 00:46:32,166 --> 00:46:34,000 to, um, keep his spirits up 689 00:46:34,083 --> 00:46:35,166 and just to show him that, you know, 690 00:46:35,250 --> 00:46:36,916 that people are with him and supporting him. 691 00:46:40,750 --> 00:46:42,166 - Nice to see you again. - Nice to see you. 692 00:46:42,250 --> 00:46:43,541 Yeah, this is about the third or fourth time... 693 00:46:43,625 --> 00:46:45,791 Craig contacted Evan and said 694 00:46:45,875 --> 00:46:48,083 that he would like to talk to me. 695 00:46:48,166 --> 00:46:50,541 I told him that, for Bahrain to submit 696 00:46:50,625 --> 00:46:53,333 their official extradition request, 697 00:46:53,416 --> 00:46:56,000 they have a sixty-day window. 698 00:46:56,083 --> 00:46:58,750 The Thai government can communicate with Bahrain, 699 00:46:58,833 --> 00:47:02,333 but I feel like Bahrain also don't want to lose face. 700 00:47:02,416 --> 00:47:05,458 Nat explained one really important thing: 701 00:47:05,541 --> 00:47:07,625 Bahrain had not actually submitted 702 00:47:07,708 --> 00:47:09,000 their extradition paperwork. 703 00:47:09,083 --> 00:47:10,958 I thought the paperwork must be in 704 00:47:11,041 --> 00:47:12,500 and we're waiting for the hearing. 705 00:47:12,958 --> 00:47:14,375 She said, "No, it's not even in." 706 00:47:15,208 --> 00:47:17,708 What happens if they don't put this paperwork in? 707 00:47:17,791 --> 00:47:19,791 And she said, "Well then the whole thing goes away, 708 00:47:19,875 --> 00:47:21,083 and he can go home." 709 00:47:21,833 --> 00:47:23,750 Immediately, I started telling 710 00:47:23,833 --> 00:47:25,916 all the social media campaigners, 711 00:47:26,000 --> 00:47:28,125 "We need to pressure now the Bahrain government 712 00:47:28,208 --> 00:47:29,416 not to put the paperwork in." 713 00:47:33,625 --> 00:47:36,500 And so I tweeted out about the fact that it wasn't in, 714 00:47:36,583 --> 00:47:40,125 and that FIFA should be leaning on Salman immediately 715 00:47:40,208 --> 00:47:43,250 back to his government to stop the paperwork. 716 00:47:49,541 --> 00:47:53,875 The night before I went to the prison, 717 00:47:53,958 --> 00:47:55,875 I just couldn't sleep. 718 00:47:55,958 --> 00:47:57,666 You know, this meeting is 719 00:47:57,750 --> 00:47:59,833 the most important meeting of my life. 720 00:48:24,125 --> 00:48:26,625 This is as close to the prison as we can get. 721 00:48:26,708 --> 00:48:30,333 Hakeem Al-Araibi will be behind glass and bars. 722 00:48:30,416 --> 00:48:32,291 Craig Foster will speak with him 723 00:48:32,375 --> 00:48:33,750 via a prison telephone. 724 00:49:39,916 --> 00:49:41,833 Save Hakeem! 725 00:50:06,750 --> 00:50:08,750 How was Hakeem when you saw him? 726 00:50:10,791 --> 00:50:12,750 So, Hakeem is worried because the case 727 00:50:12,833 --> 00:50:16,375 has been ongoing so long now that he... 728 00:50:16,458 --> 00:50:19,625 he's worried, as he said, that Bahrain are winning. 729 00:50:20,500 --> 00:50:22,541 And he said, "I need you guys to win." 730 00:50:23,458 --> 00:50:27,958 He said, "They took my career and they broke my heart 731 00:50:28,041 --> 00:50:30,625 because I love my wife and I love football." 732 00:50:30,708 --> 00:50:32,916 And he said, "The two things I love the most, 733 00:50:33,000 --> 00:50:34,333 they've taken from me." 734 00:50:34,416 --> 00:50:36,541 And I told him that, um... 735 00:50:39,500 --> 00:50:41,166 I told him that the players of the world 736 00:50:41,250 --> 00:50:42,583 are fighting hard for him. 737 00:50:49,958 --> 00:50:51,541 Hakeem Al-Araibi 738 00:50:51,625 --> 00:50:53,750 in everyone's thoughts in the football community. 739 00:50:53,833 --> 00:50:56,333 Good to see the "Save Hakeem" message 740 00:50:56,416 --> 00:50:58,333 going around the A-League this weekend, 741 00:50:58,416 --> 00:50:59,541 the football community rallying 742 00:50:59,625 --> 00:51:02,041 to try and get him back home to Melbourne 743 00:51:02,125 --> 00:51:03,708 and back to his wife. 744 00:51:05,125 --> 00:51:06,916 If every effort is not made, 745 00:51:07,000 --> 00:51:09,166 and if the life of Hakeem Al-Araibi, 746 00:51:09,666 --> 00:51:12,750 in the eyes of the football governance officials 747 00:51:12,833 --> 00:51:14,041 and the football community 748 00:51:14,125 --> 00:51:17,458 is not equally as valuable 749 00:51:17,541 --> 00:51:19,583 as both the lives of the officials 750 00:51:19,666 --> 00:51:22,916 or of the billions of dollars of influence 751 00:51:23,000 --> 00:51:26,000 that is brought to bear in this particular case, 752 00:51:27,708 --> 00:51:29,583 then the soul of football is dead. 753 00:51:38,833 --> 00:51:40,750 Bahrain has formally applied 754 00:51:40,833 --> 00:51:42,791 to extradite Hakeem Al-Araibi, 755 00:51:42,875 --> 00:51:45,416 the Melbourne-based refugee and soccer player 756 00:51:45,500 --> 00:51:47,458 who's been held in a Thailand prison 757 00:51:47,541 --> 00:51:48,750 for two months. 758 00:51:48,833 --> 00:51:50,541 It was completely devastating. 759 00:51:50,625 --> 00:51:52,708 All that then needed to happen was 760 00:51:52,791 --> 00:51:55,791 Thailand's Attorney General would accept the orders, 761 00:51:55,875 --> 00:51:58,583 and Hakeem could be put on a plane the next day. 762 00:51:58,666 --> 00:52:00,375 I actually thought immediately, 763 00:52:00,458 --> 00:52:03,000 Bahrain and Thailand are working together here, 764 00:52:03,083 --> 00:52:04,916 and they're responding to our campaign. 765 00:52:06,208 --> 00:52:09,833 It was clear at that moment that they were winning, 766 00:52:09,916 --> 00:52:12,375 and so I needed to respond and we needed to, basically, 767 00:52:12,458 --> 00:52:14,916 in football parlance, we needed to counterattack. 768 00:52:19,958 --> 00:52:21,250 Yeah, look, Fozz gives us a buzz, 769 00:52:21,333 --> 00:52:23,333 and he says, "Look, this kid--" 770 00:52:23,416 --> 00:52:24,875 he always called Hakeem "this kid," 771 00:52:24,958 --> 00:52:26,333 I said he's a man but anyway-- 772 00:52:26,416 --> 00:52:27,708 "he's in serious danger. 773 00:52:27,791 --> 00:52:29,250 We need to elevate this, 774 00:52:29,333 --> 00:52:31,208 otherwise we're going to have a tragedy on our hands." 775 00:52:42,708 --> 00:52:44,375 I drafted a tweet. 776 00:52:44,458 --> 00:52:47,583 "I'm going to turn up, basically, at your office, 777 00:52:47,666 --> 00:52:49,625 and I'm inviting all of the world's media, 778 00:52:49,708 --> 00:52:52,083 and you better get a meeting to work." 779 00:52:56,958 --> 00:52:58,708 And I remember, before I send it, 780 00:52:58,791 --> 00:53:01,916 just thinking to myself, "God, that's pretty crazy." 781 00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:03,291 You know? 782 00:53:09,041 --> 00:53:11,291 Many people go to FIFA House, 783 00:53:11,375 --> 00:53:13,916 and what's on offer is so seductive 784 00:53:14,000 --> 00:53:18,333 that they end up not really doing their job. 785 00:53:18,416 --> 00:53:20,041 And I said to Schwabe, 786 00:53:20,125 --> 00:53:22,208 "This organisation and that building 787 00:53:22,291 --> 00:53:23,666 is built by us. 788 00:53:23,750 --> 00:53:25,333 It's built on Pelé. 789 00:53:25,416 --> 00:53:27,041 It's built on George Best. 790 00:53:27,125 --> 00:53:28,458 It's built on Eusébio. 791 00:53:28,541 --> 00:53:30,208 It's built on Sam Kerr." 792 00:53:30,666 --> 00:53:32,875 I said to him, "We own that building." 793 00:53:34,833 --> 00:53:38,125 We're seeing Fatma Samoura at midday, at twelve o'clock. 794 00:53:38,208 --> 00:53:39,416 - And your name? - Craig Foster. 795 00:53:39,500 --> 00:53:42,833 FIFA's human rights policy was very much at the centre 796 00:53:42,916 --> 00:53:44,375 of this whole issue. 797 00:53:44,458 --> 00:53:45,750 That's, ah... 798 00:53:45,833 --> 00:53:48,000 It meant that they had to advance 799 00:53:48,083 --> 00:53:49,500 the cause of human rights 800 00:53:49,583 --> 00:53:51,541 and use all available leverage that they had. 801 00:53:51,625 --> 00:53:54,041 Well, when it comes to FIFA, that's massive. 802 00:53:55,250 --> 00:53:56,791 And so there was a number of steps 803 00:53:56,875 --> 00:53:58,500 that we wanted to see FIFA take. 804 00:53:59,875 --> 00:54:01,625 Very nice. My first time here, actually. 805 00:54:01,708 --> 00:54:02,791 - Really? - Yes. 806 00:54:02,875 --> 00:54:05,291 - The home of FIFA? - You've never invited me. 807 00:54:05,375 --> 00:54:07,166 Oh, really? Somebody has to be blamed. 808 00:54:07,250 --> 00:54:08,875 Right. Exactly right. 809 00:54:08,958 --> 00:54:11,166 He knows the games they play, 810 00:54:11,250 --> 00:54:14,250 he knows the regime very well, obviously, 811 00:54:14,333 --> 00:54:15,666 having been tortured previously... 812 00:54:15,750 --> 00:54:17,916 And so we then started the dance 813 00:54:18,000 --> 00:54:19,666 that happens in these meetings. 814 00:54:19,750 --> 00:54:22,500 Fatma and her staff trying to push back 815 00:54:22,583 --> 00:54:24,250 on the fact that they're doing enough, 816 00:54:24,333 --> 00:54:27,083 and me saying to Fatma, "Well, you're not, actually." 817 00:54:27,166 --> 00:54:32,208 Uh, it's clear that, ah, the situation's escalated 818 00:54:32,291 --> 00:54:33,666 since the last statement. 819 00:54:33,750 --> 00:54:36,833 So, shall we talk freely here now, or you want to wait... 820 00:54:36,916 --> 00:54:38,750 No, I think that they can... 821 00:54:38,833 --> 00:54:40,875 Is it okay for you, gentlemen? 822 00:54:42,000 --> 00:54:45,458 My requests of Fatma and of FIFA, then, 823 00:54:45,541 --> 00:54:48,250 were that Infantino got involved immediately, 824 00:54:48,333 --> 00:54:50,666 that he get Salman on the line, 825 00:54:50,750 --> 00:54:52,500 that he let the Bahraini government know 826 00:54:52,583 --> 00:54:54,416 that they need to pull the extradition order, 827 00:54:54,500 --> 00:54:58,416 and that we needed to work on a joint press release 828 00:54:58,500 --> 00:55:00,166 that would be issued immediately 829 00:55:00,250 --> 00:55:02,166 calling on Bahrain to act. 830 00:55:02,250 --> 00:55:04,000 Unless they were prepared to issue that, 831 00:55:04,083 --> 00:55:06,666 then I would walk outside and tell the world's media 832 00:55:06,750 --> 00:55:08,875 that they were leaving this kid to die. 833 00:55:14,916 --> 00:55:17,125 We're delighted to say that FIFA agreed 834 00:55:17,208 --> 00:55:20,333 that this has now become an emergency situation 835 00:55:20,416 --> 00:55:22,916 requiring an escalation 836 00:55:23,000 --> 00:55:24,208 from all stakeholders 837 00:55:24,291 --> 00:55:26,958 to provide full protection for Hakeem. 838 00:55:27,041 --> 00:55:29,416 We also agreed that Fatma and FIFA 839 00:55:29,500 --> 00:55:31,875 are going to escalate the issue 840 00:55:31,958 --> 00:55:34,333 to the highest level of both countries. 841 00:55:42,416 --> 00:55:45,041 Having people like Giorgio Chiellini, 842 00:55:45,125 --> 00:55:46,875 a World Cup winner, 843 00:55:46,958 --> 00:55:49,583 tweeting, "Release Hakeem." 844 00:55:49,666 --> 00:55:51,791 That's where this got to. 845 00:55:59,791 --> 00:56:02,041 Players around the world just started saying, 846 00:56:02,125 --> 00:56:03,375 "Okay, we-- this is just not right." 847 00:56:05,791 --> 00:56:07,958 Protest rallies in Sydney and Melbourne today 848 00:56:08,041 --> 00:56:09,708 have demanded the immediate release 849 00:56:09,791 --> 00:56:12,375 of Hakeem Al-Araibi from a Thai prison. 850 00:56:12,458 --> 00:56:14,666 All right, thank you, everyone, for coming. 851 00:56:14,750 --> 00:56:18,375 The feeling of this country is escalating very quickly, 852 00:56:18,458 --> 00:56:21,166 and Thailand should know that there are repercussions 853 00:56:21,250 --> 00:56:24,708 to taking any decision that's contrary to international law. 854 00:56:24,791 --> 00:56:27,208 Bahrain is trying to send a very strong message 855 00:56:27,291 --> 00:56:30,041 that you may think that you're free in Australia 856 00:56:30,125 --> 00:56:32,500 to speak your mind and to say what you think, 857 00:56:32,583 --> 00:56:34,041 but we will track you down, 858 00:56:34,125 --> 00:56:35,958 we will hunt you, and we will bring you back. 859 00:56:36,041 --> 00:56:37,541 Today, the unions threw their support 860 00:56:37,625 --> 00:56:38,833 behind Hakeem, 861 00:56:38,916 --> 00:56:41,291 and wouldn't rule out travel bans to Thailand 862 00:56:41,375 --> 00:56:42,875 if he isn't released. 863 00:56:44,291 --> 00:56:46,333 The whole movement in Australia 864 00:56:46,416 --> 00:56:48,791 had just taken on a life of its own. 865 00:56:48,875 --> 00:56:50,791 I sadly rise today to talk about 866 00:56:50,875 --> 00:56:54,708 the incarceration of Hakeem Al-Araibi. 867 00:56:54,791 --> 00:56:56,791 I say to the Thai Prime Minister, 868 00:56:56,875 --> 00:56:59,125 Maintain relations with Australia. 869 00:56:59,208 --> 00:57:01,458 Return Hakeem to Victoria now. 870 00:57:01,541 --> 00:57:03,083 Everybody was tweeting about it. 871 00:57:03,166 --> 00:57:04,208 Clearly, it was trending. 872 00:57:04,291 --> 00:57:05,500 People from all over the world 873 00:57:05,583 --> 00:57:08,083 were tweeting on that hashtag. 874 00:57:11,833 --> 00:57:13,500 There was actually just 875 00:57:13,583 --> 00:57:15,500 tens and hundreds of thousands of people 876 00:57:15,583 --> 00:57:17,625 who now had decided this was wrong, 877 00:57:17,708 --> 00:57:18,958 and it was clear that 878 00:57:19,041 --> 00:57:21,208 we had got in the ascendancy again. 879 00:57:21,291 --> 00:57:23,958 At that time, our hopes were so high. 880 00:57:24,041 --> 00:57:27,041 This campaign was a game of chess, 881 00:57:27,125 --> 00:57:29,708 and every time we attacked and made a move, 882 00:57:29,791 --> 00:57:31,250 there would be a counterattack. 883 00:57:31,333 --> 00:57:33,166 Let's see what's making news this Friday, 884 00:57:33,250 --> 00:57:34,416 the first of February. 885 00:57:34,500 --> 00:57:36,666 And refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi 886 00:57:36,750 --> 00:57:39,375 will reportedly face court on Monday 887 00:57:39,458 --> 00:57:41,250 after Bahrain's extradition request 888 00:57:41,333 --> 00:57:43,000 was lodged by Thai prosecutors. 889 00:57:43,083 --> 00:57:44,541 Whilst we'd made good steps, 890 00:57:44,625 --> 00:57:46,541 we clearly were being unsuccessful. 891 00:57:46,625 --> 00:57:48,000 You know, they're still moving ahead. 892 00:57:48,083 --> 00:57:50,500 And I was elated after the FIFA meeting. 893 00:57:50,583 --> 00:57:52,833 A couple of days earlier, we got the press release. 894 00:57:52,916 --> 00:57:56,458 At least they've-- they've publicly called out Bahrain. 895 00:57:56,541 --> 00:57:58,250 But it clearly wasn't enough yet. 896 00:57:58,333 --> 00:58:01,375 In less than forty-eight hours, this kid is in court. 897 00:58:01,750 --> 00:58:03,166 We believed that Hakeem was 898 00:58:03,250 --> 00:58:04,791 going to be extradited to Bahrain, 899 00:58:04,875 --> 00:58:06,875 and I remember telling his wife, 900 00:58:06,958 --> 00:58:08,583 "God won't let you down. 901 00:58:08,666 --> 00:58:10,583 Just pray and He will hear you." 902 00:58:32,541 --> 00:58:34,041 I went to the court. 903 00:58:34,541 --> 00:58:35,875 They cut my hair, 904 00:58:36,791 --> 00:58:38,166 they put me on the bus, 905 00:58:38,250 --> 00:58:40,416 and some of the police, 906 00:58:40,500 --> 00:58:42,041 he held a gun, 907 00:58:42,125 --> 00:58:44,875 he asked me to go out from the bus, 908 00:58:44,958 --> 00:58:45,958 the last one. 909 00:58:47,708 --> 00:58:49,666 I was surprised so many people, 910 00:58:49,750 --> 00:58:52,291 many flash is coming at me. 911 00:58:52,375 --> 00:58:54,458 I was worried for my family. 912 00:58:54,875 --> 00:58:57,333 What are they going to do? What are they thinking? 913 00:59:10,958 --> 00:59:13,375 Your wife sends her love, Hakeem. 914 00:59:13,458 --> 00:59:16,500 All of Australia is with you. Be strong, buddy! 915 00:59:16,583 --> 00:59:19,875 Stay strong, Hakeem. We're with you. 916 00:59:19,958 --> 00:59:21,333 I saw Craig, and he said, 917 00:59:21,416 --> 00:59:23,291 "Hakeem, be strong, be strong." 918 00:59:23,375 --> 00:59:24,958 I was happy to see him there. 919 01:00:02,541 --> 01:00:04,875 Please, save me. Please. 920 01:00:17,583 --> 01:00:19,333 Hakeem looked awful. 921 01:00:19,875 --> 01:00:22,375 Yeah, it was quite devastating to see him that way. 922 01:00:23,041 --> 01:00:24,208 We were shocked. 923 01:00:24,291 --> 01:00:26,541 We were absolutely shocked that he was in shackles. 924 01:00:26,625 --> 01:00:29,125 Like the worst criminal. 925 01:00:29,208 --> 01:00:30,750 What's this kid done? 926 01:00:31,666 --> 01:00:33,416 Spoken truth to power. 927 01:00:35,750 --> 01:00:36,666 That's a question 928 01:00:36,750 --> 01:00:37,666 for Thailand to consider, 929 01:00:37,750 --> 01:00:39,791 the ramification of its actions 930 01:00:39,875 --> 01:00:41,125 for its relationships 931 01:00:41,208 --> 01:00:43,291 with other bodies and other governments. 932 01:00:43,375 --> 01:00:45,416 There was fifteen countries here today 933 01:00:45,500 --> 01:00:47,000 to observe these proceedings. 934 01:00:47,083 --> 01:00:49,000 They're also asking the same thing. 935 01:00:57,375 --> 01:01:00,416 The fact that Thailand was just pushing ahead 936 01:01:00,500 --> 01:01:04,041 regardless of the arguments made against this extradition, 937 01:01:04,125 --> 01:01:05,416 why would they do such a thing? 938 01:01:05,500 --> 01:01:08,333 You know, what is this... What is this all about? 939 01:01:13,083 --> 01:01:14,375 I can tell you now, 940 01:01:14,458 --> 01:01:16,083 there's some aspects of this entire affair 941 01:01:16,166 --> 01:01:17,458 which are extremely concerning, 942 01:01:17,541 --> 01:01:19,750 which will explain Thailand's actions, 943 01:01:19,833 --> 01:01:22,083 but unfortunately, they're just too sensitive 944 01:01:22,166 --> 01:01:23,625 to talk about publicly. 945 01:01:25,625 --> 01:01:27,250 In Thailand when you can't explain things, 946 01:01:27,333 --> 01:01:28,916 when you can't explain why the government's 947 01:01:29,000 --> 01:01:30,041 going in a certain direction, 948 01:01:30,125 --> 01:01:31,250 then you know the answer. 949 01:01:34,125 --> 01:01:36,208 Things are tied up at that royal level 950 01:01:36,291 --> 01:01:38,666 and there's influence there and directives coming down saying, 951 01:01:38,750 --> 01:01:39,875 "This is what you're going to do 952 01:01:39,958 --> 01:01:41,541 and this is how things are going to proceed." 953 01:01:46,208 --> 01:01:48,250 So what is the relationship between 954 01:01:48,333 --> 01:01:49,666 the two Royal Families? 955 01:01:49,750 --> 01:01:52,416 I was constantly asking for information in that regard, 956 01:01:52,500 --> 01:01:53,666 and that wasn't easy to come by 957 01:01:53,750 --> 01:01:55,875 because they have laws in Thailand 958 01:01:55,958 --> 01:01:58,166 where people are imprisoned 959 01:01:58,250 --> 01:02:00,958 if they speak in a negative way 960 01:02:01,041 --> 01:02:02,291 about the Royal Family. 961 01:02:08,041 --> 01:02:09,666 Eventually, I found a few people 962 01:02:09,750 --> 01:02:11,416 who explained to me 963 01:02:11,500 --> 01:02:14,041 the depth of the relationship between the two. 964 01:02:19,833 --> 01:02:23,791 The relationship between them is very deep and historic. 965 01:02:24,500 --> 01:02:27,083 Bahrain had been Thailand's closest trade partner 966 01:02:27,166 --> 01:02:28,916 in the Middle East for decades. 967 01:02:31,250 --> 01:02:32,666 We discovered that the Thai King 968 01:02:32,750 --> 01:02:35,208 had recently negotiated the sale of a hotel 969 01:02:35,291 --> 01:02:37,875 to the Bahrain Royal Family 970 01:02:37,958 --> 01:02:41,250 that had made him 1.6 billion dollars. 971 01:02:44,708 --> 01:02:47,416 And, of course, Salman is a senior member 972 01:02:47,500 --> 01:02:49,333 of the Bahrain Royal Family. 973 01:02:51,833 --> 01:02:54,000 So we now knew this was a matter 974 01:02:54,083 --> 01:02:58,125 of two Royal Families trading the life of Hakeem. 975 01:03:04,250 --> 01:03:05,750 Is he actually saveable? 976 01:03:05,833 --> 01:03:07,291 Is this situation saveable? 977 01:03:07,375 --> 01:03:08,583 That's it, I think. 978 01:03:08,666 --> 01:03:10,125 I honestly, at that point in time, thought-- 979 01:03:10,208 --> 01:03:12,583 My kind of hope had, you know, been dashed at that point. 980 01:03:27,375 --> 01:03:28,583 Barefoot in Thailand 981 01:03:28,666 --> 01:03:30,458 and locked up in chains, 982 01:03:30,541 --> 01:03:33,166 a nightmare far from what Hakeem Al-Araibi imagined 983 01:03:33,250 --> 01:03:35,250 when he flew off on his honeymoon. 984 01:03:43,750 --> 01:03:45,458 The life of a refugee footballer 985 01:03:45,541 --> 01:03:47,083 is hanging in the balance. 986 01:03:47,166 --> 01:03:48,333 The twenty-five-year-old 987 01:03:48,416 --> 01:03:50,000 was brought before the Bangkok court 988 01:03:50,083 --> 01:03:51,500 shackled in chains. 989 01:03:51,583 --> 01:03:53,125 Australia's Prime Minister, 990 01:03:53,208 --> 01:03:55,750 soccer governing bodies, and human rights activists 991 01:03:55,833 --> 01:03:58,166 are urging Thailand to set him free. 992 01:03:58,250 --> 01:03:59,291 We all saw those 993 01:03:59,375 --> 01:04:00,708 dramatic pictures of him 994 01:04:00,791 --> 01:04:02,875 appearing at a courtroom in Bangkok 995 01:04:02,958 --> 01:04:04,125 and he was barefooted. 996 01:04:04,208 --> 01:04:05,916 - In shackles... - Shackles... 997 01:04:06,000 --> 01:04:07,291 Shackled in chains. 998 01:04:07,375 --> 01:04:08,916 Now, that image shocked the world. 999 01:04:09,000 --> 01:04:11,291 If we thought the campaign was big at that point, 1000 01:04:11,375 --> 01:04:13,708 the shackles, it just blew it up. 1001 01:04:19,125 --> 01:04:21,500 Human rights groups are saying there simply isn't 1002 01:04:21,583 --> 01:04:23,875 a legal basis for holding him here. 1003 01:04:23,958 --> 01:04:25,375 That's when the public turned. 1004 01:04:25,458 --> 01:04:27,291 The Thais. That's when the Thais turned. 1005 01:04:27,375 --> 01:04:29,750 They didn't like the brutality of their country 1006 01:04:29,833 --> 01:04:31,708 being displayed like that. 1007 01:04:31,791 --> 01:04:33,375 Some of his supporters have even said 1008 01:04:33,458 --> 01:04:35,041 that Thailand should be barred 1009 01:04:35,125 --> 01:04:36,750 from staging international matches 1010 01:04:36,833 --> 01:04:38,750 if he is sent back to Bahrain. 1011 01:04:38,833 --> 01:04:40,000 Once we'd found out 1012 01:04:40,083 --> 01:04:42,958 that the Royal Family of Thailand were involved, 1013 01:04:43,041 --> 01:04:45,166 we knew that to shift the narrative, 1014 01:04:45,250 --> 01:04:48,625 we needed every day Thai people to be speaking out 1015 01:04:48,708 --> 01:04:50,458 and putting pressure on their politicians, 1016 01:04:50,541 --> 01:04:52,666 and only that was going to shift the King. 1017 01:04:56,458 --> 01:04:58,125 We actually started to see protests 1018 01:04:58,208 --> 01:05:01,583 in the coming days from Thai clubs themselves, 1019 01:05:01,666 --> 01:05:03,541 which was incredibly brave, 1020 01:05:03,625 --> 01:05:06,791 given that they're basically protesting against the King. 1021 01:05:07,958 --> 01:05:10,041 Football, the beautiful game, 1022 01:05:10,125 --> 01:05:13,125 showed how beautiful it can be when they stood up for him. 1023 01:05:18,041 --> 01:05:19,791 The "SaveHakeem" hashtag, 1024 01:05:19,875 --> 01:05:22,583 this is now the most trending hashtag 1025 01:05:22,666 --> 01:05:24,166 in the whole of Thailand. 1026 01:05:32,708 --> 01:05:34,750 My view is that the Thai government 1027 01:05:34,833 --> 01:05:37,250 is only now starting to see 1028 01:05:37,333 --> 01:05:39,125 the global opposition to this move. 1029 01:05:42,083 --> 01:05:46,833 And the outrage just swamped the Thai government. 1030 01:05:50,000 --> 01:05:54,750 The Thai Prime Minister actually called for calm 1031 01:05:54,833 --> 01:05:56,875 they were under so much pressure. 1032 01:06:09,375 --> 01:06:11,666 Whoever was religious was praying. 1033 01:06:11,750 --> 01:06:14,000 Others were just pleading 1034 01:06:14,083 --> 01:06:15,750 because that was the moment. 1035 01:06:17,500 --> 01:06:18,916 The game had swung our way again, 1036 01:06:19,000 --> 01:06:21,250 but it meant the Thai King was backed into a corner, 1037 01:06:21,333 --> 01:06:24,375 and we had no idea how he'd react. 1038 01:07:08,750 --> 01:07:09,875 What does that mean? 1039 01:07:09,958 --> 01:07:11,708 Why would he be going to Bahrain at this time? 1040 01:07:12,250 --> 01:07:13,375 They're going to sneak Hakeem 1041 01:07:13,458 --> 01:07:14,458 out of the country. 1042 01:07:14,541 --> 01:07:16,166 They've realised that the public pressure 1043 01:07:16,250 --> 01:07:18,666 is so great, they can't do this legitimately. 1044 01:07:18,750 --> 01:07:20,875 They're actually just going to put a bag over his head, 1045 01:07:20,958 --> 01:07:22,125 they're going to take him to the airport 1046 01:07:22,208 --> 01:07:23,208 and they're going to shove him on a flight 1047 01:07:23,291 --> 01:07:24,458 because once he's back in Bahrain, 1048 01:07:24,541 --> 01:07:25,625 nobody can do anything. 1049 01:07:25,708 --> 01:07:27,708 We basically thought it was all over. 1050 01:09:28,500 --> 01:09:30,875 The thing that really got me about this situation 1051 01:09:30,958 --> 01:09:34,125 was that it was football that had done this to Hakeem. 1052 01:09:41,000 --> 01:09:43,833 It was the people at the very highest levels of the game 1053 01:09:43,916 --> 01:09:45,083 that had failed him, 1054 01:09:45,166 --> 01:09:47,166 who didn't seem to understand a thing 1055 01:09:47,250 --> 01:09:49,875 about what makes football truly beautiful. 1056 01:09:54,416 --> 01:09:56,666 If we stop buying the shirts, 1057 01:09:56,750 --> 01:09:58,541 if we stop buying the tickets, 1058 01:09:58,625 --> 01:10:03,708 if we refuse to support teams and clubs and competitions 1059 01:10:03,791 --> 01:10:05,958 that are abusing human rights, 1060 01:10:06,041 --> 01:10:07,625 it all stops. 1061 01:10:07,708 --> 01:10:10,041 It all comes back to what is most important. 1062 01:10:10,125 --> 01:10:13,583 That is the game, the players, and the fans. 1063 01:10:19,666 --> 01:10:21,916 But all I could do in that moment was watch 1064 01:10:22,000 --> 01:10:24,583 as these people sat around deciding what to do 1065 01:10:24,666 --> 01:10:27,166 with the life of a twenty-five-year-old man. 1066 01:13:25,916 --> 01:13:27,958 And I guess I want to give thanks to Australia 1067 01:13:28,041 --> 01:13:30,083 and it's amazing to see all the people here. 1068 01:13:30,166 --> 01:13:32,250 And I just want to thank this man. 1069 01:13:32,333 --> 01:13:35,041 He's fought too much for my case. 1070 01:13:35,125 --> 01:13:37,041 And I want to thank you very much. 1071 01:13:37,125 --> 01:13:38,541 And I love Australia. 1072 01:13:38,625 --> 01:13:41,250 - Thank you very much. - Welcome home, Hakeem! 1073 01:13:45,166 --> 01:13:46,625 A young Australian... 1074 01:13:48,833 --> 01:13:50,750 Um... sorry. 1075 01:13:50,833 --> 01:13:53,125 Good on you, Fozzy! 1076 01:13:53,208 --> 01:13:56,666 A young Australian reunited with his wife. 1077 01:13:56,750 --> 01:13:59,833 That's the most important thing here. 1078 01:13:59,916 --> 01:14:01,875 Refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi 1079 01:14:01,958 --> 01:14:04,625 is back in Australia a free man. 1080 01:14:04,708 --> 01:14:07,375 Late yesterday, a Thai court announced an extradition order 1081 01:14:07,458 --> 01:14:09,916 lodged by Bahrain had been dropped. 1082 01:14:10,000 --> 01:14:11,875 We now know the pressure brought by 1083 01:14:11,958 --> 01:14:13,333 the Save Hakeem campaign 1084 01:14:13,416 --> 01:14:15,833 caused a flurry of diplomatic activity. 1085 01:14:15,916 --> 01:14:17,125 After Thailand's foreign minister 1086 01:14:17,208 --> 01:14:18,250 made a trip to Bahrain, 1087 01:14:18,333 --> 01:14:19,625 Thailand's government announced 1088 01:14:19,708 --> 01:14:22,000 the extradition request had been dropped. 1089 01:15:07,291 --> 01:15:09,500 I felt hope. 1090 01:16:33,333 --> 01:16:35,333 I am Hakeem Al-Araibi. 1091 01:16:35,416 --> 01:16:37,000 I am a footballer. 1092 01:16:37,083 --> 01:16:38,875 I am a torture survivor. 1093 01:16:38,958 --> 01:16:41,666 And I am a human rights defender.