The launch today of Craig Foster’s new book Fighting for Hakeem, reveals the inner workings of the campaign to free the young footballer who was detained for 76 days in a Thai prison thanks to the systemic failure of Australian Government agencies.
“This was a powerful moment that brought the whole nation together in solidarity with refugees seeking safety.”
Tim O’Connor, Campaigner Amnesty International Australia
Foster worked closely with Amnesty International Australia and a coalition of other sporting and human rights organisations to ensure Hakeem’s situation gained widespread media attention and lobbied the Australian Government to intervene to return him to Australia.
Australian Federal Police chief Reece Kershaw recently apologised to Hakeem and his family for the errors that led to his arrest and detention in Thailand, and Amnesty has urged the Department of Home Affairs to launch an inquiry into the failures that resulted in Hakeem’s arrest.
Proceeds of the sale of Fighting for Hakeem will go to Amnesty International Australia.
