An Interpol red notice has been lifted on Hakeem Alaraibi, but the Bahraini refugee - who has Australian permanent residence - will remain in detention in Thailand until authorities decide whether to deport him or not.
The talented footballer appeared in a Bangkok court on Monday and was not provided access to legal representation, according to advocacy group Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD).
Mr Alaraibi was arrested on an Interpol red notice when he arrived in Bangkok last week after travelling from Melbourne.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Interpol red notice was lifted.
However, Thai authorities continue to detain Mr Alaraibi as they wait to decide whether to deport him to Bahrain or allow his return to Australia.
This comes as the Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (GIDHR) reported Thai officials had officially received a request from Bahraini authorities to extradite Mr Alaraibi.
Hakeem Alaraibi is detained in Bangkok. Source: Supplied
If he is deported back to Bahrain, advocates say he will likely be mistreated by authorities and the president of the GIDHR, Yahya Alhadid, said Mr Alaraibi should be able to return to Australia immediately.
"There is no explanation for continuing to detain Hakeem Alaraibi. Thai authorities said he was arrested on the basis of Interpol’s red notice, and that notice was lifted," he said in a press release.
"He should be allowed to board the first flight to Australia. We call on the Thai government to do the right thing to protect its reputation in front of the international community."
Amnesty International Australia campaigner Diana Sayed said as a "recognised refugee" he should never have been detained.
“Hakeem’s life will be in danger if he is deported to Bahrain. As a recognised refugee with approved travel documents he should never have been detained. We are pleased to hear reports of the Red Notice being lifted - but despite this - the Thai authorities continue to detain him," she said.
"Thai immigration must release him now and allow him to come home to Australia."
BIRD director Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei said extraditing Mr Alaraibi would be a "new low" for Thailand.
"This is not the first time that the Thai authorities are deliberating the extradition of a Bahraini national facing great risk of torture," he said in a statement.
"They have done it before, but to do it again with Hakeem, who is a recognised refugee, would set a new low and would taint Thailand's reputation.
"Hakeem's deportation would violate Thailand's obligations under international law."
Hakeem Alaraibi played professional football for the Pascoe Vale team. Source: SBS News
Human Rights Watch Asian Division executive director Brad Adams said the decision to detain the refugee was “ridiculous and outrageous”.
“Australia needs to step up and fight to demand the return of Hakeem,” he said.
Mr Alaraibi continues to be held at the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said Australian Embassy officials in Bangkok were in direct contact with Thai authorities regarding the issue.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne discussed the case with reporters on Friday.
"He's not an Australian citizen ... and he's also travelling on UN papers. So we have raised that matter. Our post in Thailand is aware of it and is following up on that."
Mr Alaraibi was granted asylum status by Australia in May 2014 after being sentenced in absentia by the Bahraini courts to 10 years jail for vandalising a police station. He denies the charge.
Mr Alaraibi claims he was arrested in November 2012 and tortured by the Bahraini authorities, allegedly due to the political activities of his brother.
He has also been a vocal critic of Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa, the president of the Asian Football Federation and a cousin of the Bahraini king.
Hakeem Alaraibi. Source: Supplied
Last week, Mr Alaraibi told SBS News he was "afraid".
"It's very dangerous there [for me] ... In Bahrain, they want to kill me," he said.
Mr Alaraibi had been granted refugee travel documents by Australia for his trip to Thailand for a holiday with his wife.
He is well-known in his home country having played for the national football side, before playing for Victorian football clubs including Pascoe Vale.
