Twenty human rights organizations are urging Bulgaria to stop the deportation of Saudi activist Abdulrahman al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia, advocating for his resettlement in another country. Al-Khalidi, a prominent critic of the Saudi government, has faced legal hurdles regarding his asylum status in Bulgaria. Human Rights Watch warns that deportation could contravene international nonrefoulement principles, risking his safety.
A coalition of 20 human rights organizations has urged Bulgarian authorities to halt the planned deportation of Saudi human rights defender Abdulrahman al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia, advocating instead for his resettlement in a third country. Al-Khalidi, an outspoken advocate for prisoners’ rights, has been active in this field for over ten years. He fled Saudi Arabia in 2013 due to fears of persecution and has since continued his criticism of the Saudi government, particularly through his involvement in the online movement “Bees Army,” which was founded by slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In response to Khashoggi’s murder in 2018, al-Khalidi sought asylum in Bulgaria, but his application was rejected by the State Agency for Refugees in May 2022, despite his claims of imminent danger upon return. Al-Khalidi has appealed this decision twice to the Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria. Compounding his situation, the National Security Agency issued an expulsion order in February 2024, which was confirmed by a Sofia court in October 2024, although it cannot be executed until all legal avenues for his asylum are exhausted.
Joey Shea, a researcher at Human Rights Watch focusing on Saudi Arabia, cautioned that Bulgaria’s actions could breach the principle of nonrefoulement. This principle forbids the deportation of individuals to nations where they may face serious harm. Notably, Article 3 of the Convention against Torture prohibits states from sending individuals to any country where they are likely to be tortured, while similar protections are enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Furthermore, Article 33 of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees underscores the necessity of not returning refugees to locations where they may encounter persecution.
Human rights organizations have consistently highlighted the Saudi regime’s crackdown on dissidents, particularly under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This includes the execution of 81 individuals in March 2022, marking the country’s largest mass execution in recent history, despite assurances that capital punishment would be limited.
In summary, the coalition of human rights organizations is advocating for the suspension of Abdulrahman al-Khalidi’s deportation to Saudi Arabia, highlighting the severe risks he faces if returned. The potential violation of international laws protecting individuals from torture and persecution raises grave concerns about Bulgaria’s adherence to these principles. The case underscores the ongoing threats to human rights defenders globally, particularly in Saudi Arabia under the current regime.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
