The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the U.S. Congress warns Bulgaria against deporting Abdulrahman al-Khaldi

Mr. Ben Cardin, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the U.S. Congress, has warned Bulgaria against deporting the Saudi activist Abdulrahman al-Khaldi to Saudi Arabia, as al-Khaldi could be at risk of inhumane treatment, including persecution.

In his comments on the news of the potential deportation of al-Khaldi, Mr. Ben Cardin said: I urge Bulgaria not to deport Abdulrahman al-Khaldi, in accordance with international law which stipulates that individuals should not be deported to places where there is a significant risk of inhumane treatment including persecution. Mr. Cardin also emphasized Bulgaria’s obligations under international law to protect human rights.

Previously, SANAD organisation had warned the Bulgarian authorities of the risk of deporting the activist Abdulrahman al-Khaldi to Saudi Arabia, due to the real danger threatening his life.

Al-Khaldi was politically active in Saudi Arabia and, fearing arrest, moved to Turkey. When his passport expired, al-Khaldi was forced to leave Turkey in 2021 and made a journey on foot through the forests to Bulgaria to seek protection in the European Union.

However, the Bulgarian authorities refused last May to grant him political asylum due to his inability to prove that he would face persecution in his home country, as confirmed by a member of his defense team who preferred to remain anonymous. Al-Khaldi is currently awaiting a final decision regarding his deportation to Riyadh.