Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun told AFP she ran away from her family while travelling in Kuwait because they subjected her to physical and psychological abuse.

The 18-year-old said she had planned to seek asylum in Australia and feared she would be killed if repatriated by Thai immigration officials who stopped her during transit on Sunday.

The incident comes as Saudi Arabia faces intense scrutiny over the shocking murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year, which has renewed criticism of the kingdom's rights record.

Thai immigration chief Surachate Hakparn had said Sunday that Qunun was denied entry because of her lack of documents.

But he made an abrupt about-face the next day, following a global media frenzy as the young woman pleaded on Twitter for different countries to help her.

I seek protection in particular from the following country

Canada/United States/ Australia /United kingdom, I ask any if it Representatives to contact me. — Rahaf Mohammed رهف محمد القنون (@rahaf84427714) January 6, 2019

After announcing that Thailand "will not force her" to leave, Surachate told reporters late Monday that Qunun would be "allowed to stay" after a meeting with officials from the UN refugee agency UNHCR.

"She is under the care of the UNHCR now but we also sent Thai security to help take care (of her)," Surachate told reporters at Suvarnabhumi airport.

He said Qunun had told UNHCR officials she "wants to stay in Thailand for a while while seeking asylum to a third country".

The agency "will take five days to consider her status" and another five days to arrange for travel, Surachate said, adding that he would meet with Saudi diplomats on Tuesday to explain Thailand's decision.

AAP

Following the announcement, a relieved Qunun tweeted that she felt safe "under UNHCR protection with the agreement of Thailand authorities", adding that her passport had been returned to her after being taken away on Sunday.

UNHCR's spokesman in Geneva Babar Baloch confirmed Qunun had "left the airport to a safe place in the city" and said agency officials would interview her once she had had some rest.

Hey I'm Rahaf. My father just arrived as I heard witch worried and scared me a lot and I want to go to another country that I seek asylum in

But at least I feel save now under UNHCR protection with the agreement of Thailand authorities. And I finally got my passport back🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/pQER7HDVi7 — Rahaf Mohammed رهف محمد القنون (@rahaf84427714) January 7, 2019

Surachate had told reporters earlier Monday Qunun was stopped by immigration because Saudi officials had contacted them to say she had fled her family.

"Thailand is a land of smiles. We will not send anyone to die," he said. "We will take care of her as best as we can."

'Barricaded in'

Qunun had earlier posted a video on Twitter of her barricading her hotel room door with furniture in a bid to stop her deportation from Thailand.

She said Saudi and Kuwaiti officials had taken her passport from her when she landed - a claim backed by Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

She later thanked ABC journalist Sophie McNeil who "stood and stayed with me in the room to protect me" as she barricaded the door when authorities were present.

I want to thank this great person @Sophiemcneill she stood and stayed with me in the room to protect me, I will never forget you😭❤️❤️ and thank u for the gift 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/wu2SRqBpa1 — Rahaf Mohammed رهف محمد القنون (@rahaf84427714) January 7, 2019

Abdulilah al-Shouaibi, charge d'affaires at the Saudi embassy in Bangkok, told Saudi-owned TV channel Khalijia that the woman's father -- a senior regional government official -- had contacted the diplomatic mission for "help" bringing her back.

But he denied that her passport had been seized and that embassy officials were present inside the airport.

A Twitter statement from the Saudi embassy in Bangkok said Qunun was stopped by Thai authorities for "violating the law".

0:00 Saudi woman Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun records a video from the hotel room while she waits to be deported. 00:00 / 00:00 Share Share on Twitter

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'Facing grave harm'

The ultra-conservative Saudi kingdom has long been criticised for imposing some of the world's toughest restrictions on women.

That includes a guardianship system that allows men to exercise arbitrary authority to make decisions on behalf of their female relatives.

In addition to facing punishment for "moral" crimes, women can also become the target of "honour killings" at the hands of their families, activists say.

If sent back, Qunun told AFP she would likely be imprisoned and was "sure 100 percent" her family would kill her.

"My family is strict and locked me in a room for six months just for cutting my hair," she said.

HRW's Robertson said Qunun "faces grave harm if she is forced back to Saudi Arabia".

"Given Saudi Arabia's long track record of looking the other way in so-called honour violence incidents, her worry that she could be killed if returned cannot be ignored," he said.

"She has clearly stated that she has renounced Islam which also puts her at serious risk of prosecution by the Saudi Arabian government."

An Australian government spokesman said the claims made by Qunun "that she may be harmed if returned to Saudi Arabia are deeply concerning" and they are monitoring the case "closely".

Read more Saudi embassy denies seizing passport of Australia-bound Saudi woman seeking asylum

Australian embassy representatives in Bangkok have reached out to Thai authorities and the UNHCR to "seek assurances" that she will be able to access the "refugee status determination process".

The UNHCR said that according to the principle of non-refoulement, asylum seekers cannot be returned to their country of origin if their life is under threat.

Twitter

Human Rights Watch provided SBS News with a document which appears to show Ms Qunun was granted a three-month visitor visa by the Australian Department of Home Affairs on 6 December 2018.

Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said she was concerned by the reports over the situation and had sought further information from the government.

"It is a very distressing position she is in," Senator Wong said.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called on the government to act "quickly" for Ms Qunun's safety.

Australia needs to help this young woman urgently! Her life is in danger after denouncing Islam & fleeing forced marriage. We can issue her w emergency travel docs so she can board flight to Australia & seek safety. I’ve called on the Govt to act quickly! https://t.co/aYy2WbGA2M — Sarah Hanson-Young💚 (@sarahinthesen8) January 7, 2019

Immigration Minister David Coleman declined to comment.

SBS News has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.