Together for Justice Condemns Bulgaria’s Inhumane Treatment of Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi and Calls for Immediate Action to Stop His Imminent Deportation

Together for Justice strongly condemns the ongoing and inhumane treatment of Saudi activist Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi, who has now entered his 70th day of a hunger strike in protest of his arbitrary detention in Bulgaria. Al-Khalidi’s health has deteriorated severely as he faces the threat of imminent deportation to Saudi Arabia, where he is at serious risk of torture, enforced disappearance, and other severe human rights violations.

Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi, a vocal critic of the Saudi government, fled the kingdom in 2013 due to escalating persecution for his political activism. He sought asylum in Bulgaria on October 23, 2021, fearing that a return to Saudi Arabia would lead to his imprisonment, torture, or worse. Despite the clear and present danger, Bulgarian authorities rejected his asylum request and have been coordinating his deportation with Saudi officials.

The conditions of Al-Khalidi’s detention have been appalling. He has reported being held in administrative detention without any legal justification, facing physical and psychological pressure. His requests for necessary medication for heart problems and panic attacks have been denied unless he agrees to participate in informal interrogations without legal representation. These interrogations, led by Bulgaria’s National Security Agency (SANS), are part of a broader collaboration with Saudi authorities to silence and punish dissidents abroad.

Adding to the injustice, Bulgarian officials informed Al-Khalidi that they would be transferring him to a deportation center, paving the way for his forced return to Saudi Arabia. This decision comes despite the numerous human rights violations the Saudi regime is known for, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and unfair trials.

Together for Justice is outraged by Bulgaria’s complicity in this grave violation of human rights. By cooperating with the Saudi government and facilitating the deportation of a political dissident, Bulgaria is putting Al-Khalidi’s life at grave risk and blatantly disregarding international human rights obligations.

The case of Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi is not an isolated one; it reflects a wider pattern of persecution faced by Saudi dissidents worldwide, many of whom have been forcibly returned to the kingdom, only to disappear into the brutal Saudi prison system or face sham trials leading to severe punishments, including execution.

We call on the Bulgarian government to immediately halt the deportation of Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi and ensure that he receives proper medical treatment and humane conditions in detention. The international community must step in to hold both Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia accountable for these grave violations and provide protections to individuals like Al-Khalidi who risk their lives for expressing their opinions.

In light of these dire circumstances, we renew our calls to:

Immediately release Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi and cease any deportation efforts that would send him back to Saudi Arabia.
Ensure that Bulgaria upholds its international obligations to protect asylum seekers from torture, persecution, and unfair treatment.
Pressure the Saudi regime to stop its relentless persecution of dissidents abroad and respect the basic rights of its citizens.

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.