Within hours, #SaveHakeem became the most trending hashtag on social media outlets, now nearing one million tweets. Another hashtag has been widely spread calling for boycotting travel to Thailand #BoycottThailand in protest.

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.

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.

Australian football player and analyst Craig Foster called to find a solution for Hakeem Al-Araibi case before the end of the week.

A leading Thai football club has joined the growing international chorus to free refugee player Hakeem Al-Araibi, who faces deportation to Bahrain where he fears for his life.

Former Australia soccer captain Craig Foster will lobby officials at world governing body FIFA later on Monday for them to intervene on behalf of a Bahraini refugee player being detained in Thailand and facing deportation to his country.

Australian football player and analyst Craig Foster said that he demanded a meeting with FIFA administration on Monday.