EU Must Act Now to Protect Activist Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi from Deportation to Saudi Arabia
Together for Justice urgently calls on European authorities and the international community to intervene and provide protection to Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi, a Saudi human rights activist and journalist facing imminent deportation to Saudi Arabia, where he is at grave risk of torture, enforced disappearance, or death.
On October 22, 2024, the Sofia Administrative Court in Bulgaria issued a final, non-appealable decision to extradite Al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia, disregarding international human rights principles and Bulgaria’s obligations under international law. This decision is not only a direct threat to Al-Khalidi’s life but also sets a dangerous precedent for the treatment of dissidents worldwide.
Background
Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi, a journalist and outspoken critic of the Saudi regime, fled his home country in 2013 to escape persecution for his political activism. He sought refuge in Bulgaria in 2021, fearing detention, torture, or even execution if forced to return to Saudi Arabia.
Despite credible threats to his life, Bulgarian authorities have systematically denied Al-Khalidi’s asylum applications, subjected him to inhumane detention conditions, and cooperated with Saudi officials to facilitate his deportation.
Al-Khalidi has been held in administrative detention without legal justification since 2021. His health has deteriorated severely due to appalling conditions, including being denied necessary medication for heart problems and panic attacks unless he participates in unsanctioned interrogations led by Bulgaria’s National Security Agency (SANS). These interrogations reportedly involve collaboration with Saudi authorities, further endangering his life.
According to Al-Khalidi, Bulgarian authorities subjected him to administrative detention, showing no concern for his dire condition. Recently, they informed him to prepare for transfer to a deportation center, a step toward his forcible return to Saudi Arabia, despite the severe risks he faces there.
In February 2022, investigators from Bulgaria’s National Security Agency (SANS) revealed to Al-Khalidi that they were coordinating his deportation with Saudi authorities. They mentioned plans to use a private plane escorted by Saudi officials. Shockingly, they also informed him that his asylum request had been rejected four months prior to the official decision, citing political ties between the two countries.
The Bulgarian State Agency for Refugees (DAB) justified its rejection of Al-Khalidi’s asylum request by claiming a “thorough and detailed review” had been conducted. They argued that Saudi Arabia, as a country not experiencing war or conflict, posed no danger to his safety or life. The rejection decision even described Saudi Arabia as an “absolute monarchy governed by the Quran and Sunnah,” asserting that its people enjoy a “democratic character” and “strong governance.” They cited the 2015 municipal elections, which they labeled as fair, and dismissed security agencies’ human rights violations as “limited.”
Al-Khalidi has exhausted all possible avenues to prevent his deportation and to escape the inhumane detention conditions he endures in Bulgaria. He reached out to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bulgaria, reporting the abuses and dangers he faced. However, he was told the UNHCR could not intervene due to Bulgarian intelligence’s dominance over his case, with the recommendation to approach civil organizations instead.
Since his transfer to the Busmantsi detention center, Al-Khalidi has made repeated requests for medications to manage his heart condition and panic attacks, but these were consistently denied. A SANS investigator later told him that access to medical treatment would only be granted if he agreed to undergo an informal interrogation without his lawyer present—a condition Al-Khalidi refused.
Furthermore, his lawyer formally requested his transfer to a hospital due to worsening health issues, including severe psychological distress, auditory hallucinations caused by ongoing psychological pressure, sharp chest pain, and malnutrition leading to toenail loss. Later, Al-Khalidi developed urinary tract infections from being denied restroom access for 10 hours daily (from 10 PM to 7 AM). These pleas for medical intervention were met with complete disregard.
A Pattern of Persecution
The case of Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi is emblematic of a broader Saudi campaign to silence dissent, even beyond its borders. Dissidents forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia often face severe punishment, including arbitrary detention, torture, sham trials, and executions. Bulgaria’s complicity in this violation of international norms makes it directly accountable for the potential harm to Al-Khalidi.
Timeline of Injustice
2013-2011: Al-Khalidi faces escalating repression in Saudi Arabia and flees with his family to Turkey.
2013-2021: Continues advocacy work, including collaboration with Jamal Khashoggi’s Bees Movement. Khashoggi’s murder in 2018 forces Al-Khalidi to seek safety in Europe.
October 25, 2021: Arrested in Bulgaria after crossing the border from Turkey.
July 05, 2024: Al-Khalidi begins a hunger strike in protest of his prolonged arbitrary detention, which he ends after 104 days due to health concerns and pleas from supporters.
October 22, 2024: Sofia Administrative Court issues a final decision to extradite Al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia.
This timeline underscores the systematic injustice and disregard for Al-Khalidi’s rights at every stage of his asylum process.
Our Demands
Together for Justice calls on:
The Bulgarian Government: Halt Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi’s deportation immediately and ensure he receives adequate medical care and humane treatment.
The European Union: Investigate Bulgaria’s handling of this case and enforce EU human rights obligations to protect individuals from persecution.
The International Community: Intervene to ensure the safety and protection of Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi and other Saudi dissidents.
The forced deportation of Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia, where he faces almost certain persecution, is a clear violation of his fundamental rights. The international community must act decisively to protect him before it’s too late.
Together for Justice stands in solidarity with Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi and all Saudi dissidents who continue to suffer for their bravery in speaking out against oppression. We urge everyone to take action by sharing his story and raising awareness with the hashtag #StopDeportingAlKhalidi, and by calling on governments and international organizations to intervene to prevent this gross violation of human rights.
The time for action is now—before it’s too late.
