Bahraini soccer player Hakeem al-Araibi scored the most critical, albeit symbolic, goal of his life today when Thai authorities released him from prison and dropped the extradition case against him. The 25-year-old refugee catapulted to global attention when he was detained by Thai authorities at the Bangkok Airport Nov. 27, upon demand from the Bahraini government. Bahrain had obtained an Interpol Red Notice warrant for Araibi's arrest, even though Interpol proscribes such action against refugees on behalf of their home countries. The Australian government was sharply criticized for passing along the notice to the Thai authorities prior to Araibi's arrival. Araibi had come to Thailand with his wife for a long-delayed honeymoon.

The Thai government has been under intense pressure to free Araibi. Araibi said he would face torture if sent back to Bahrain, as he is a member of the Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdom’s repressed Shiite majority. His appearance in a Thai court last week, shackled at the ankles, provoked further outcry.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, former Australia soccer captain Craig Foster, and FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, helped spearhead a noisy campaign to secure Araibi’s freedom. He was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for supposedly vandalizing a police station, even as he was competing in a match that was being broadcast live at the time. Araibi said the government was using him as a scapegoat for his brother's political activism.

Foster took to Twitter to express his joy: “Many wonderful people stepped forward to help Hakeem. They all deserve to be in front of camera now, not only me.”