Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) has partnered with Australia’s number one online fundraising and crowdfunding platform, mycause.com.au, to raise funds for detained refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi.
Al-Araibi, 25, will remain in a Thai jail in Bangkok until his next court appearance on 22 April.
The injustice has piqued international interest, the footballer receiving overwhelming support from the Victorian football community, Australian public and global football stars. But he and his supporters require ongoing funding until he secures his freedom.
mycause Managing Director Tania Burstin praised the PFA’s initiative to help raise funds for Hakeem’s defence and his return home to Australia.
“With the best wishes and generosity of all Australians, we hope to see Hakeem return to Australia as soon as possible,” Ms Burstin said.
Through the MyCause platform, the PFA has called on the public’s help to cover the ongoing legal costs associated with preserving Hakeem’s human rights, funding a global advocacy campaign in support of his freedom, providing care for his wife and for Hakeem’s care and rehabilitation once he is returned to Australia.
The PFA has been underwriting all costs associated with Hakeem’s case since he was detained last November and has partnered with mycause to crowdfund to help support Hakeem and his wife.
“The generosity of people within the football world and from the broader community has been heartening and every dollar we can raise is a small step closer to securing Hakeem’s freedom,” PFA Chief Executive John Didulica said.
“Alongside ongoing legal costs and campaign activation costs in pursuit of Hakeem’s freedom, there is an acute duty to support Hakeem’s wife who remained here in Melbourne; with Hakeem imprisoned in Thailand, she needs support to pay basic living expenses and needs care.”
For more information and to make a contribution, visit mycause.com.au/savehakeem.
