Human Rights Organizations Urge Bulgaria to Halt Deportation of Activist to Saudi Arabia

A coalition of 20 human rights organizations has called for Bulgaria to cease its plans to deport Saudi activist Abdulrahman al-Khalidi, advocating for his resettlement in a third country. Al-Khalidi, a longstanding human rights defender, fears persecution upon return. His asylum application has been rejected by Bulgarian authorities, raising concerns about violations of international human rights protections.

On Monday, a coalition of 20 human rights organizations urged Bulgarian authorities to halt the deportation of Saudi human rights activist Abdulrahman al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia, advocating instead for his resettlement in a third country. Al-Khalidi, an activist for over a decade, fled Saudi Arabia in 2013 due to fears of persecution and continued criticizing the Saudi government through writing and involvement with the online movement “Bees Army,” established by the late journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Following Khashoggi’s murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, al-Khalidi sought asylum in Bulgaria. However, in May 2022, Bulgaria’s State Agency for Refugees denied his asylum application, ruling that he was not at risk of persecution, which al-Khalidi appealed twice to the Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria. In February 2024, the National Security Agency of Bulgaria issued an expulsion order against al-Khalidi, which the Sofia Administrative Court confirmed in October 2024, contingent on the resolution of all pending asylum appeals.

Human Rights Watch’s Saudi Arabia researcher, Joey Shea, highlighted that Bulgaria may violate the principle of nonrefoulement, which prohibits the deportation of individuals to countries where they might face danger. Article 3 of the Convention against Torture forbids states from expelling individuals to places where they may be tortured, a principle supported by the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Likewise, Article 33 of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees protects refugees from being returned to territories of persecution.

Additionally, human rights organizations have documented the Saudi government’s crackdown on dissenters under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This includes the execution of 81 men in March 2022, marking the largest mass execution in decades, which occurred amidst pledges to limit capital punishment.

In summary, rights organizations are advocating for Bulgaria to refrain from deporting Abdulrahman al-Khalidi back to Saudi Arabia, citing the risk of persecution he faces. They emphasize the importance of adhering to international laws that protect individuals from being returned to danger. This case underscores ongoing concerns regarding human rights practices in Saudi Arabia, especially under the current regime.

Original Source: www.jurist.org