Human Rights Petition Calls for Humanitarian Visa for Abdulrahman Al-Khaldi and Condemns Deportation Decision
The organization Migrant Solidarity Bulgaria has launched a petition demanding a humanitarian visa for Saudi activist Abdulrahman Al-Khaldi, following the Bulgarian Administrative Court’s decision to deport him to Saudi Arabia despite serious threats to his life due to his opposition activism.
In this context, the Sanad Human Rights Organization pointed out that the deportation decision constitutes a clear violation of Article 19 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which prohibits forced return to countries where individuals risk torture. Sanad urged Bulgarian authorities to respect their European and international legal commitments, emphasizing that such decisions infringe on fundamental rights and endanger Al-Khaldi’s life.
UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor also warned of the implications of the deportation decision, calling on Bulgaria to uphold its non-refoulement obligations. Several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have urged the Bulgarian government to respect human rights, immediately release Al-Khaldi, and reconsider his asylum request, which was denied in 2021.
