A Thai court ruled Tuesday that a soccer player who holds refugee status in Australia can be held for 60 days pending the completion of an extradition request by Bahrain, the homeland he fled four years ago on account of alleged political persecution and torture.

The lawyer for an Australia-based refugee soccer player facing extradition from Thailand to Bahrain is confident they will win the case based on the Gulf country's poor human rights record and the real threat to her client's life.

ADHRB sent a letter to Vice President of FIFA, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, calling on him to support and endorse FIFA’s call to allow footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi, currently detained in Thailand, to return to Australia rather than have him deported to Bahrain, where he potentially faces torture and abuse.

Bahraini activists started on Friday (December 7, 2018) an open protest in front of the Thai Consulate in Australia, protesting against arrest of Hakeem Al-Araibi in Bangkok.

Bahraini football player Hakeem Al-Araibi launched a hunger strike in one of Thai detention centers, after being separated by prison authorities from his wife, who had been staying with him even though she was not formally detained, according to Australia-based Bahraini activist Hassan Abdulnabi.

World football's governing body, FIFA, demanded on Friday the return of Bahraini football player to Australia at the earliest possible moment, where he enjoys refugee status.

Amnesty International said in a statement on its website that Bahraini refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi is in imminent danger of deportation from Thailand, despite his status as a recognized refugee in Australia. His forcible return to Bahrain would violate international law, it stressed.

The Australian Football Nation Radio website said that the Pascoe Vale footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi, detained in Thailand and wanted in Bahrain, awaits confirmation as to whether he will be allowed to return to Australia, the country he calls home after fleeing Bahrain.

Thai authorities revealed on Wednesday that Bahrain knew that football player Hakeem Al-Araibi was traveling from Australia to Bangkok and coordinated with Thailand's authorities to arrest him.

Activists overseas staged a protest in front of the Thai embassy in Australia demanding the authorities in Bangkok to allow Bahraini football player Hakeem Al-Araibi return to his residence in Australia, where he has been granted asylum.

Thai authorities ordered the arrest of Bahraini football player for 12 days pending local court's decision. The court will decide within this period whether to release Al-Araibi or send him back to Bahrain, news indicated.

Activists overseas launched an appeal to address local MPs in Australia within the framework of a campaign to hinder the deportation of a Bahraini refugee residing in Australia, Hakeem Al-Araibi, from Thailand to Bahrain.

News indicated on Monday (December 3, 2018) that Bahraini football player Hakeem Al-Araibi was transferred to unknown destination in Thailand after he was arrested in a place affiliated with the immigration ministry since about a week.

The Associated Press reported that Australian officials have raised with Thai authorities the plight of an Australia-based refugee professional soccer player who was detained in Bangkok and fears deportation to his native Bahrain, Australia’s foreign minister said Friday.

Thailand’s government should ensure that Hakeem Ali Mohamed Ali al-Araibi, a recognized refugee, is not returned to Bahrain, said Human Rights Watch. If returned, he would face an imminent risk of wrongful detention and ill-treatment by Bahraini authorities.

A refugee football player living in Australia has been detained in Bangkok by Thai authorities and is facing deportation to Bahrain, rights groups say.

Thai rights activists on Friday called for the release of a refugee footballer from Bahrain detained in Bangkok who may be deported back home where they say he could face persecution.

A former Bahrain national team footballer who fled to Australia due to political repression said Thursday he fears being returned to the Gulf state after he was detained at a Bangkok airport.

The SBS Australian News website reported that a Bahraini refugee who has Australian permanent residency has been arrested in Thailand and now faces deportation back to the Gulf state.