Transnational Repression on EU Soil
Global attention

International Voices

Public interventions and international voices that have raised concern about detention, deportation risk, and the need for protection.

UN mandate holders

United Nations

UN Expert

Mary Lawlor

Former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

Public concern over deportation risk and the need to respect non-refoulement obligations.

2024
UN Procedure

Communication to UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

MENA Rights Group

Submission by MENA Rights Group raising risk of torture if returned to Saudi Arabia (September 2023).

Sep 2023
International human rights organisations

NGOs and observers

Front Line Defenders

Front Line Defenders

Dublin-based international HRD organisation

Maintains an active profile on the case and coordinates international advocacy.

Ongoing
Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch

HRW

Multiple public statements urging Bulgaria not to deport.

2024–2025
Amnesty International

Amnesty International

Amnesty International

Public urging on Bulgaria to halt deportation and protect the case.

Ongoing
European Parliament

MEPs and parliamentary action

European Parliament

Erik Marquardt

MEP, Greens/EFA

Co-signatory of written questions and the 18-MEP letter to the Bulgarian Prime Minister.

2025–2026
European Parliament

Ilaria Salis

MEP

Co-signatory of follow-up parliamentary questions on detention, return, and non-refoulement.

2025
European Parliament

Tineke Strik, Rima Hassan, Daniel Freund

MEPs

Among the signatories of the 18-MEP letter to the Bulgarian government urging release.

Mar 2026
National parliaments

German Bundestag

German Bundestag

Katrin Fey

Member of the German Bundestag (Die Linke); Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid

Public appeal on Facebook and Instagram (7 June 2026) calling for Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi's immediate release, no deportation to Saudi Arabia, and protection for human rights defenders.

Jun 2026
United States

US Senate and US-based advocates

U.S. Senate

Ben Cardin

Former Chair, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Public call to avoid deportation and respect international law.

2023–2024
DAWN

Democracy for the Arab World Now

DAWN MENA

Advocacy organisation founded by Jamal Khashoggi; supports the case publicly.

Ongoing
Saudi voices

Saudi human rights advocates

Amnesty International

Lina Alhathloul

Saudi human rights advocate, Amnesty International

Public advocacy around the case: detention, court orders, and protection needs.

2023–2026
ESOHR

European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights

ESOHR

Saudi diaspora rights organisation tracking the case.

Ongoing
Bulgarian civil society

Bulgarian voices

Migrant Solidarity

Migrant Solidarity Bulgaria

Grassroots civil society

Organised public protests and petitions in Sofia calling for release.

2024–2026
Center for Legal Aid

Voice in Bulgaria

Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria

Legal-aid NGO involved in supporting asylum seekers in Bulgaria.

Ongoing
Next

See the full list

For the complete network of organisations that have publicly supported the case, see the Supporting Organizations page.

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