Refugee footballer Hakeem Al Araibi becomes Australian citizen

Melbourne, March 12: Refugee footballer Hakeem Al Araibi, who was detained in Thailand and threatened with extradition to Bahrain said he feels sure "no one can follow me now," after becoming an Australian citizen.

Hakeem, who was granted refugee status and residency in Australia in 2017 after fleeing Bahrain, became an Australian at a ceremony in Melbourne.

The 25-year-old shot to international fame when he was arrested while on honeymoon in Thailand last year.

He was wanted by Bahrain on offences linked to the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

Amid a worldwide outcry, he was eventually allowed back to Melbourne, where he plays semi-professional football.

Spotting a big smile on his face and a salmon-pink jacket, Hakeem posed for photos with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne after the ceremony at Federation Square in Melbourne.

Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP has presented Hakeem Al-Araibi with his lapel pin of the Australian flag. The refugee footballer became an Australian citizen at a ceremony in Melbourne this morning. #auspol #7News pic.twitter.com/OSzTUe1lFU

— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) March 12, 2019

"I am very grateful to you, now I feel save. NSydneyo one can follow me now," Hakeem Araibi tweeted.

"It's a wonderful and awesome feeling to gain all this respect in my citizenship ceremony, I'm really proud to see Marise Payne... and other government representatives participating in my ceremony it make me feel secure."

📸 We would like to congratulate Hakeem Al-Araibi in receiving his Australian Citizenship today. A moment we all have been waiting for. #HakeemSaved #FootballUnites pic.twitter.com/z2SSiGBcAq

— Pascoe Vale FC (@pvfc_official) March 11, 2019

Payne told the ceremony the massive outpouring of support for the footballer "played an enormous part in ensuring he was returned to Australia".

(With inputs from Agencies)