CANBERRA, Australia — A refugee soccer player thanked Australians on his return home Tuesday hours after the threat of extradition to Bahrain was lifted and three months after he was detained in Thailand.
Hundreds of supporters carrying welcome signs and singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” were waiting at Melbourne Airport when Hakeem al-Araibi arrived on a commercial flight direct from Bangkok.
“I would like to say thanks to Australia,” Al-Araibi told the cheering crowd. “It’s amazing to see all of the people here and all of the Australian people and all of the media who supported me.
