FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, file photo, prison guards escort Bahraini football player Hakeem al-Araibi from a court in Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand officially received a request from Bahrain to extradite a detained soccer player who has refugee status in Australia. (Gemunu Amarasinghe, File/Associated Press)BANGKOK — A campaign by Australia, human rights groups and sports organizations to stop Thailand from extraditing to Bahrain a detained soccer player who has refugee status in Australia has gotten personal, with an open letter from his wife delivered to the Thai prime minister. Bahrain wants Al-Araibi returned to serve a prison sentence after he was convicted in absentia of arson of a police station, a charge he denies. Thai officials said earlier this week the attorney general’s office is expected to decide within a week whether to proceed with the extradition case.

Source: Washington Post January 31, 2019 00:54 UTC