Bahrain: Dissident footballer avoids forced return

Bahrain’s attempt to extradite footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi from Thailand came to a halt on 11 February, when the authorities in Bangkok said they had dropped the case. Al-Araibi had been detained in the Thai capital in December while on honeymoon. He had previously been granted political asylum in Australia in 2014, after being charged (and later convicted in absentia) with vandalising a police station. Human rights groups had described the trial as unfair. There was also sharp criticism over Bahrain’s use of an Interpol red notice to have him detained in Thailand.