Bahrain Mirror: Bahraini football player Hakeem Al-Araibi launched a hunger strike in one of Thai detention centers, after being separated by prison authorities from his wife, who had been staying with him even though she was not formally detained, according to Australia-based Bahraini activist Hassan Abdulnabi.

Thai authorities detained Al-Araibi a week ago upon his arrival, based on a Bahraini arrest warrant before they began considering his deportation to Bahrain.

Al-Araibi resides in Australia. He went to Thailand as soon as he acquire the right of permanent residence in Melbourne, where he restored in 2012 after being tortured in Bahrain.

Activist Yousif Al-Muhafdah told Al-Monitor website that shared a cell with Al-Araibi when they were imprisoned for taking part in anti-government protests in 2012.

"He described to me how he was tortured in Al-Khamis police stations and forced into signing a phony confession," Al-Muhafdah added. Al-Araibi stressed that he had been jailed "because of his brother's political activities. The latter, Emad Al-Araibi, remains in Bahraini prison."

Bahraini authorities have since sentenced the athlete to 10 years in absentia for allegedly vandalizing a police station in 2014. Araibi insists he was playing a match that was broadcast live at the time of the purported crime and that there is archived footage to prove it.

Arabic Version