World Players

The UNI Global Union Freedom from Fear Awards

The UNI Global Union Freedom from Fear Awards are in recognition of the work of affiliates or individual members for a world “free from fear.”

World Players is proud that two athletes have received this highly prestigious honour: (1) Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir (2017); and (2) Hakeem Al-Araibi (2019).

2017 Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir

For her successful campaign to have FIBA’s hijab ban overturned. This involved great personal sacrifice, as she was unable to play for three years. Her campaign brought together World Players Association, Human Rights Watch, Shirzanan, Athlete Ally and basketball players’ associations from around the world.

Watch Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir's interview on receiving the Freedom from Fear Award called "In conversation with Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir":

Watch a short documentary of Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir's fight for justice called  “Life without basketball":

Life Without Basketball from Auburn Seminary on Vimeo.

2019 Hakeem Al-Airabi:

Human rights defender and Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi and the campaign to free him from illegal detention in a Thai prison and prevent his extradition to Bahrain. The campaign was led by former Australian football captain Craig Foster working in close cooperation with World Players Association. It brought together our affiliates Professional Footballers Australia and FIFPro, as well as FIFA, the IOC, the Australian Government, the Consulate Staff in Thailand, the ACTU, Football Federation Australia, Football Victoria, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, BIRD, GIDHR, the Sports and Rights Alliance, the International Trade Union Confederation, the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, many professional player associations and affiliates of World Players, football players and fans from all over the world and Hakeem’s legal team in Thailand led by Nadthasiri Bergman. The release of Hakeem marks an important turning point for the sport and human rights movement. Hakeem was an Australian resident at the time of his imprisonment and has since been granted Australian citizenship.

Watch a short video of Hakeem Al-Airabi receiving the Freedom from Fear Award:

Watch a documentary of the campaign liberating Hakeem Al-Airabi from illegal detention in Thailand called "Craig Foster's people power campaign":

Former Australian football captain Craig Foster wrote “Fighting for Hakeem" retracing Hakeem Al Airabi’s combat for freedom. Please click here to access the book.