Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001410/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Ilaria Salis (The Left), Mimmo Lucano (The Left), Mélissa Camara (Verts/ALE), Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE), Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE), Erik Marquardt (Verts/ALE), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Damien Carême (The Left), Catarina Martins (The Left), Özlem Demirel (The Left), Li Andersson (The Left), Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left)
Abdulrahman al-Khalidi, a Saudi political activist, is detained in Bulgaria, despite a court ruling, handed down on 26 March 2025, ordering his release. He has been held in the Busmantsi Detention Centre for over three years, and authorities are still planning to deport him to Saudi Arabia, where he faces grave risks because of his activism. Al-Khalidi’s detention has been justified on unclear national security grounds, without judicial oversight, which violates Bulgarian judicial rulings and human rights protections[1].
- 1.What action is the Commission taking to ensure that Bulgaria complies with international obligations, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, and prevents al-Khalidi’s deportation to Saudi Arabia, where he faces torture, arbitrary detention and other human rights violations?
- 2.How will the Commission ensure that Bulgaria respects judicial decisions, specifically the ruling of Sofia Administrative Court ordering al-Khalidi’s release, and prevents unlawful detention based on arbitrary national security claims?
- 3.Given the severe risks to al-Khalidi’s life, will the Commission intervene to ensure that Bulgaria grants him asylum protection in line with EU law?
Submitted: 7.4.2025
- [1] See: https://www.meltingpot.org/en/2025/04/abdulrahman-al-khalidi-is-at-serious-risk-of-deportation/ and https://balkaninsight.com/2025/04/01/bulgaria-still-detaining-saudi-activist-despite-court-release-order/.