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duration: 1 Hour and 47 Minute

A huge reception for Bahraini football player Al-Araibi upon his arrival in Australia

00:00:59

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Hundreds of human rights activists and Australians received Bahraini refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi, who arrived in the Australian city of Melbourne from Bangkok on Tuesday after being detained in a Thai prison for more than two months at the request of his country. The Thai authorities released him on Monday after Bahrain withdrew its extradition request. Al-Araibi, 25, fled Bahrain in 2014 and obtained refugee status in Australia. He was arrested at Bangkok airport in November while visiting Thailand for his honeymoon. Al-Araibi was arrested after Interpol issued an arrest warrant against him at the request of Bahrain. Bahraini authorities accused Al-Araibi of committing crimes during the Arab Spring protests in 2011, charges he denies. Read also: Thai authorities arrest two Iranians who tried to enter the country with forged passports The Australian Foreign Minister arrives in Thailand to discuss the asylum applications of a Saudi girl and a Bahraini football player 3 Bahraini opposition leaders were imprisoned on charges of spying for Qatar Al-Araibi said after landing at Melbourne Airport from a Thai Airways flight, "Australia is my country. I have not obtained citizenship yet, but my country is Australia... I love Australia." Television footage showed hundreds of his supporters cheering. Al-Araibi was wearing the shirt of the Pascoe Vale team he plays for in Melbourne, the second largest city in Australia. The player thanked his supporters who chanted, “Welcome home, Hakim!” Al-Araibi's arrest sparked widespread international criticism. Under intense diplomatic pressure, Bahrain agreed to withdraw his extradition request from Thailand.

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