The federal government has called for an Australian-based refugee football player to be immediately released from detention in Thailand.

Hakeem Alaraibi had been in Thailand holidaying with his wife when he was detained at Bangkok airport in November.

He was held on an Interpol warrant issued at the request of Bahrain.

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Foreign Minister Marise Payne says she has raised the matter with Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai, requesting that Mr AlAraibi be allowed to fly back to Melbourne as soon as possible.

Returning Mr Alaraibi to Bahrain, where he fled in fear of his safety, would contravene his rights under international human rights law, Senator Payne says.

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"Australia is concerned by the ongoing detention of Mr Hakeem Alaraibi and calls for his immediate return to Australia," Ms Payne said.

"Mr AlAraibi was granted permanent residency by the Australian Government in 2017 in recognition of his status as a refugee.

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"Australia has made, and will continue to make, high-level diplomatic representations seeking Mr Alaraibi's safe return."

Mr AlAraibi sent out a message on Friday saying he feared being tortured if he was deported to Bahrain.

Australia has raised our concerns at the ongoing detention of Mr Hakeem Ali Alaraibi with the Thai authorities and we have called for his immediate return to Australia. https://t.co/6vPPUMNnWI — Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) December 9, 2018

He fled to Australia in 2014 and was granted refugee status in November 2017.

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His status as a permanent resident allows him to remain in Australia indefinitely and to travel to and from the country, so long as he does not travel to Bahrain.

Human rights advocates on Sunday called on the Australian Government to grant Alaraibi Australian citizenship.

The Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights also accused the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ignoring his refugee status, which was granted to him "due to the persecution and torture he faced in Bahrain".

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“We urge the Thai authorities not to violate the international laws by extraditing Hakeem Alaraibi to Bahrain where he will be tortured. Alaraibi should be allowed to return back to Australia as soon as possible," said Yahya Alhadid, GIDHR President.

“We call on the Australian Government to exceptionally grant Alaraibi the Australian citizenship, thus will be able to bring him back safely to the country he calls home."