07/01/2026
Cross-bloc MEPs file second parliamentary question urging EU scrutiny of Abdulrahman al-Khalidi’s detention in Bulgaria
A cross-bloc group of Members of the European Parliament, Ilaria Salis (The Left), Krzysztof Śmiszek (Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament), Strada (S&D), and Erik Marquardt (Greens/EFA in the European Parliament), has submitted a formal parliamentary question to the European Commission on the ongoing detention of Saudi human rights defender Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi in Bulgaria and the risk of deportation to Saudi Arabia.
This intervention marks the second time the case has been raised through parliamentary questions. An earlier question, tabled on 7 April 2025 (E-001410/2025), also pressed the Commission to act to prevent deportation and address unlawful detention.
In the new question, the MEPs highlight that al-Khalidi sought asylum in Bulgaria in October 2021 and has been detained at the Busmantsi Detention Centre for over four years. They note that his asylum application was rejected and that a deportation order to Saudi Arabia is in place, warning that deportation would expose him to serious risks, including possible ex*****on. The MEPs also reference a DROI Subcommittee study published on 12 June 2025, which highlighted his case as a key example of detention used in transnational repression.
The parliamentary question asks the Commission to clarify whether the prolonged detention and deportation risk comply with EU law, and it explicitly requests information on Commission monitoring, including when the Commission last visited the Busmantsi facility, how frequently such visits occur, and what follow-up actions are planned to ensure compliance with EU standards and the principle of non-refoulement.
📌 The link to the official Parliamentary Document (E-004644/2025) is in the FIRST COMMENT below. 👇
