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.

Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan wrote to Thailand's Ambassador to Australia Nantana Sivakua last week expressing his "serious concerns" about the ongoing detention of Mr AlAraibi.

Mr Tan backed the federal government's call to have him released from the Immigration Detention Centre and returned to Australia.

"I respectfully request that Thai authorities give full consideration to the human rights implications of Mr AlAraibi's ongoing detention and any further action taken to return Mr AlAraibi to Bahrain," Mr Tan wrote in the letter, seen by AAP.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne earlier in December said she 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 said at the time.

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

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.

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

Soccer's international governing body FIFA says it supports calls him to return to Australia at the "earliest possible moment."

Mr AlAraibi plays soccer for semi-professional Pascoe Vale in the National Premier Leagues Victoria.

He was signed by Pascoe Vale as if he was an Australian, and not included in the overseas player allowance, due to his permanent residency.

Australian Associated Press