Saudi dissident Abdulrahman al-Khalidi released in Bulgaria

Saudi dissident and human rights activist Abdulrahman al-Khalidi has been released in Bulgaria after spending nearly five years in administrative detention. His custody, which began in October 2021, was described by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee as ‘one of the most prolonged cases of detention of an asylum seeker in Bulgaria’.

During his detention, al-Khalidi was held in various facilities, including the Butmantsi Detention Centre near Sofia and a temporary accommodation centre in Lyubimets. Reports indicated he faced poor living conditions and alleged police beatings. His lawyer, Diana Radoslavova of the Voice in Bulgaria Centre for Legal Aid, stated that his release occurred because he was approaching the maximum legal limit for migration detention, which is 18 months.

Al-Khalidi expressed gratitude to his supporters on social media following his release. His legal counsel noted that he appeared psychologically resilient during the transition.