Bulgaria Transfers Activist Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi to Deportation Center, Ignoring Court Orders and Threatening Forcible Return to Saudi Arabia
Human rights activist Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi has been transferred to the deportation section of the Busmantsi detention center in Bulgaria, raising alarms of his imminent forced return to Saudi Arabia. This move comes despite two court rulings ordering his release and the ongoing consideration of his asylum request, after spending over three and a half years in arbitrary detention.
Al-Khalidi reported being informed of the transfer decision on March 28 by two plainclothes immigration officers. He was not given any prior legal notice, nor was a translator present. The decision was read to him in Bulgarian only, and he was forced to sign it under threat, without receiving a copy in Arabic.
“I thought I was being released in accordance with the court ruling, but they deceived me,” Al-Khalidi said. “They confiscated my phone, denied me access to my lawyer, and forced me to sign documents I didn’t understand. I was deprived of my most basic legal rights.”
Court Orders Ignored
Despite rulings by the Sofia Administrative Court on January 18 and March 26 ordering his immediate release, Bulgarian authorities have failed to implement them—a blatant violation of the rule of law and judicial independence.
Urgent Warning from Sanad Organization
Sanad Human Rights Organization urgently warns the Bulgarian authorities against deporting Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia, where he faces a serious risk to his life.
Sanad calls on all relevant bodies and the international community to intervene immediately to protect his life, and to take effective action to halt his deportation. The organization highlights the grave threat such practices pose to human rights and the safety of activists.
Sanad affirms that Bulgaria is legally obligated to prevent his return to Saudi Arabia under Article 19 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which prohibits forcible deportation to countries where the individual may face torture or inhuman treatment.
Furthermore, under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is incorporated into Bulgarian law, the extradition of asylum seekers to countries with severe human rights violations, such as Saudi Arabia, is strictly prohibited—particularly for political dissidents and activists.
Sanad urges human rights defenders across Bulgaria and Europe to closely monitor Al-Khalidi’s case and help prevent an unlawful deportation that could put his life at grave risk. The organization stresses the need for Bulgaria to honor its international commitments and protect all asylum seekers from being forcibly returned to countries where their dignity and safety are at risk.
Background
Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi was a political activist in Saudi Arabia. As government repression escalated, he fled to Turkey, fearing arrest. When his passport expired, he trekked through forests into Bulgaria in 2021, seeking protection within the EU.
However, Bulgarian authorities denied his asylum request, arguing he had not sufficiently proven he would face persecution in Saudi Arabia—despite evidence to the contrary. His legal and living situation has since deteriorated, and he now faces imminent deportation to Riyadh.
