A Hunger Strike in the Schengen Zone

Khalidi, a Saudi human rights activist, has been detained in a Bulgarian detention center for nearly three years after crossing the border from Turkey in the fall of 2021 and applying for asylum. His detention has been marked by a deportation order issued by the State Agency for National Security (DANS), which claims he poses a threat to national security without providing specific reasons. This order came while Khalidi was appealing a rejection of his asylum claim, raising concerns about his safety if returned to Saudi Arabia, where he could face arbitrary detention and torture, as highlighted by Human Rights Watch. The length of Khalidi's detention is exceptional, with only 2% of asylum seekers in Bulgaria in 2023 managing to process their claims without being detained. His case exemplifies the broader issues within the Bulgarian asylum system, where arbitrary detention is common. Activists argue that the Bulgarian authorities may be misinformed or willfully ignoring the realities of the Saudi regime, as evidenced by the initial asylum application that incorrectly identified Khalidi's nationality as Syrian. Khalidi's family remains in Turkey, and he often reflects on them during his confinement. The EU's migration policies have increasingly favored restrictive measures, leading to a narrative that equates migration with criminality. This has created a double standard in the treatment of migrants, particularly those from the Middle East and North Africa, compared to the more favorable treatment of Ukrainian refugees. As Khalidi continues to await the outcome of his asylum process, his daily life in detention is monotonous and isolating, highlighting the human cost of prolonged detention and the urgent need for reform in the asylum system in Bulgaria and the EU at large.