'Thanks Australia': Detained refugee footballer says support keeps him strong

A Melbourne-based refugee football player being detained in Thailand says he is staying strong because of a groundswell of support from his adopted nation.

Detained Melbourne-based refugee Hakeem al-Araibi is facing deportation from Thailand to his native Bahrain. Source: AAP

Detained Melbourne-based refugee Hakeem al-Araibi has thanked Australia for supporting him as he fears deportation from Thailand to his native Bahrain.

The semi-professional football player is being held indefinitely in Bangkok after being arrested over an incorrectly issued Interpol Red Notice last month.

The Australian permanent resident was in Thailand for his first overseas holiday with his wife since fleeing Bahrain in 2014 in fear for his safety.

Thai prison guards lead Hakeem al-Araibi, centre from a court house in Bangkok Source: AAP

Refugees are not supposed to be issued with Interpol Red notices requested by the country from which they have fled.

Thailand would be in breach of international law if it proceeds with extraditing him.

But his detention could be prolonged for months as he awaits a Thai court decision on whether or not to extradite him.

In a hand-written letter sent to his soccer club in Melbourne, Pascoe Vale, Mr al-Araibi said he loves his wife "so much" and he is "strong" because of his adopted country's support.

"Thanks Australia for help (sic) me," he wrote.

Hakeem al-Araibi remains in remains in detention in Bangkok. Source: AAP

Supporters of Mr al-Araibi gathered outside the Australian Federal Police headquarters on Wednesday calling for his immediate release.

Following the rally, Refugee Action Collective's Chris Breen said the Australian government needed to reinvigorate its efforts in support of Mr al-Araibi's.

"Minister Dutton has not spelt out the legal reasons he claims prevent him granting Hakeem citizenship," Mr Breen said.

"Granting Hakeem citizenship could be an important stepping up of the advocacy of the Australian government for Hakeem's freedom."

The footballer's lawyers are demanding Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton grant him emergency Australian citizenship in hope it would increase his prospects of flying back to Victoria.

Mr al-Araibi's visa allows him to remain in Australia indefinitely and to travel to and from the country, so long as he does not travel to Bahrain.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has called for his immediate release and safe return to Australia, raising his case with Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai.

But it was revealed that Australia's National Interpol Bureau tipped off Thailand about Mr al-Araibi's arrival in the country before he arrived.

Interpol's boss Juergen Stock defended the organisation's warrant alert system from Paris on Wednesday.

Greens Senator Nick McKim says the federal government needs to do more, considering it was an "error by Australian authorities" that saw him imprisoned.

"Will the government do the right thing and #SaveHakeem?," he tweeted.

In 2014, Mr al-Araibi was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for allegedly vandalising a police station in Bahrain.

A former member of the Bahrain national football team, he says he was overseas playing in a televised match when the alleged incident occurred.

Mr al-Araibi has been openly critical of the Bahraini government, speaking about an incident where he was allegedly tortured by authorities in 2012.