For a place that hosts emotional farewells and exuberant welcome home celebrations in almost every hour of every day, Melbourne International Airport had likely never seen a return like this.
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Hakeem al-Araibi, after spending almost three months in a Thailand jail cell, walked back onto Australian soil on Tuesday to rapturous applause.
"I want to thank Australia. Australia is my home," Araibi said after stepping off the plane.
"I will die in Australia and I love Australia."
A crowd of about 100 supporters and friends gathered at the airport to welcome Araibi. He was arrested while on his honeymoon and had been in custody since November 27 last year.
He emerged from the airport with former Socceroos captain Craig Foster who led a high-profile media campaign pushing for his release.
A choir sang the famous soccer song 'You'll Never Walk Alone' as Araibi appeared, while friends and supporters rushed to give the softly spoken man long hugs and a kiss.
Flanked by Foster and wearing the colours of his soccer club, Pascoe Vale, Araibi stopped to talk to the media before he was taken away in a car.
‘‘I want to thank Australia. It is amazing to see all the people here, all the Australian people, all the media and, everyone who supported me,’’ he said.
‘‘I just want to thank the Australian government, the Australian people.
‘‘I want to thank this man [Foster], he fought too much for my case. My thanks to the media [and] all the human rights [groups].
‘‘I will be more strong because of this country. I will be strong here, just for Australia and Australia is my country.
‘‘I haven’t got citizenship yet but my country is Australia."
The soccer player was released by Thai authorities on Monday evening when Bahrain, his country of birth, requested the Thai attorney-general's office drop a case against him.
That case was escalated last week and to many, such a quick resolution and return seemed impossible.
Araibi's wife, who has been waiting in Melbourne for his release, was not at the airport to greet him but expressed her gratitude and joy at his return.
"My heart is now full with gratitude. Just so thankful that these tears are falling out of relief and joy. Especially grateful for all people who support Hakeem in the world," his wife, who has requested not be be named, said.
"And finally this nightmare has ended, I am very happy to see everyone happy with me at this moment. Thank you all for my support and I would like to say thank you Australia.
"It was wonderful, thank you Australian government for all this support, thank you Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, lawyers, Craig ... Pascoe Vale [Football] Club ...
"Thank you all for giving me a big support to be strong. I love you all and thank you from the heart. Well done all, we do it ."
An Interpol red notice had been issued for Araibi's detention by Bahrain, despite international law stipulating that refugees cannot be returned to the country from which they have fled.
Araibi fled to Australia in 2014 and was granted refugee status in 2017.
Abdulla Alabed and Husain Alqatari are Bahraini migrants who've known Araibi since he came to Australia. They helped him settle in after being granted refuge here.
Mr Alabed said they planned to only let Araibi sleep for a few hours before dragging him out to a celebration planned for tonight.
"Tonight will be a big night for Hakeem," he said. "We haven't slept for three months waiting for him."
Mr Alqatari, who is from Al Musalla, the same village in Bahrain as Araibi, was overwhelmed by his friend's return.
"Some people are in tears today. We could not imagine he would come back sometimes. He is back to us safe in Australia," Mr Alqatari said.
"His family in Bahrain is very excited. They went through a lot of stress in the last few months. They are happy he is safe and united with his wife.
"There's a lot of people who have escaped torture back home and there's a lot of people in prison at the moment.
"Hakeem is lucky he has Australia behind him to defend him but not everyone does. These people need our help.
Foster, whose advocacy was crucial in the international debate over Araibi's fate, praised the government on Monday for applying diplomatic pressure but said Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne should keep "all the Hakeems'" in Australia.
"I'm calling on Scott and Marise to commit to more humane policies for all the Hakeems who come into Australia's care," he said.
"I am very proud of Australia. I am very proud today to be Australian.
"To fight incredibly hard for not just a young player who virtually no one knew, but a refugee who was under our protection and who we felt all of us needed to step forward and protect.
"To see him back here on home soil today speaks volumes about the values, the character and the pride we have as Australians."
Shadow foreign minister Penny Wong has said she will ask the government how Araibi ended up in a Thai prison for almost 80 days, with questions centring on how Bahraini authorities knew he was out of Australia.
"There are questions that do need to be answered about how this occurred and the process by which it occurred," Senator Wong said.
"One of the key issues is the automated Interpol red notice service."
