A refugee footballer fighting an extradition request pleaded for his freedom Monday, saying "please don't send me to Bahrain" as he arrived in shackles at a Bangkok court, which extended his detention by another two months.

The wife of the Bahraini footballer and refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi has written to leaders in Canada and New Zealand about his arrest that the authorities'' intention to extradite him to Bahrain, the British The Guardian reported.

Former Australian captain Craig Foster said that Bahrain's timing of its unjust demand to the Thai court to extradite Hakeem Al-Araibi demonstrates the contemptuousness with which Bahrain has treated international sport throughout the travesty of justice.

The British "The Guardian" newspaper said that Allan McKinnon, Australia's ambassador designate, called on the Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-ocha, to directly intervene to ensure the footballer's release, after the prosecutor had confirmed he had executive powers to do so.

The Thai authorities have chosen to show indifference to criticism over their detention of Bahraini refugee player in Australia Hakeem Al-Araibi and that they prefer favoring the ruling family in Bahrain, which has joint investments with Thai leaders.

Lawyer of Bahraini refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi said the court has given her 60 days to submit the defense's case.

A soccer player who has refugee status in Australia told a Thai court Monday that he refuses to be voluntarily extradited to Bahrain, which has asked for his return to serve a prison sentence for a crime he denies committing.

Jailed Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al Araibi, who fled political upheaval in the Middle East nation and has refugee status in Australia, will spend at least two more months in prison in Thailand after a court set an extradition hearing for April.

Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi demanded on Monday (January 4, 2019) not to send him back to Bahrain, expressing his fears that the Bahraini authorities would kill him.

Former Chelsea star and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team Didier Drogba joined the international campaign demanding the release of Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi, who is currently detained by the Thai authorities with a possibility to hand him to the Bahraini authorities. The Ivorian posted a picture of Al-Araibi on his Twitter account along with the "SaveHakeem" hashtag.

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement explaining the government's point of view with respect to Hakeem Al-Araibi's case. It said it wishes to receive Al-Araibi from Thailand and that he holds the right to appeal this court decision if present at Bahrain's Court of Appeal.

A Thai public prosecutor on Friday submitted to a criminal court Bahrain’s extradition request for jailed footballer Hakeem Al Araibi, who fled his country amid political upheaval and has refugee status in Australia.

A number of rallies were held in Australia’s Sydney and Melbourne on Friday (February 1, 2019), in solidarity with Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi and all Bahraini prisoners of conscience.

The case of Bahraini football player Hakeem Al-Araibi, who is held in Thailand, caused the Government of Bahrain a severe headache.

30 MEPs sent an urgent letter to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in particular Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai, in which they expressed their deep concern regarding the arrest of Bahraini player and urged the Thai authorities to release Hakeem Al-Araibia and ensure he returns safe to Australia.

The former Bahrain football player Hakeem Al-Araibi is still being held in a Thai prison, pending a final court decision on his extradition to Manama, although he had entered Thailand as a refugee in Australia.

An Australian website said that the wife of detained footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi has sent an emotional appeal to Thailand's Prime Minister urging him to help return her husbandd to his house in Australia.

Thailand's government should immediately release the refugee football player Hakeem Al-Araibi and let him return to his wife and team in Australia, Human Rights Watch said yesterday in announcing a campaign for his freedom.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Thailand to stop the extradition to Bahrain of a detained soccer player who has refugee status in Australia, his office said Tuesday.

The Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (GIDHR) issued a statement saying that Hakeem Al-Araibi is one step away from being handed over to Bahrain which he fled.