An investigation by the BBC World Service has brought to light concerning connections between a lawyer mentioned in a trans woman's suicide note and the Saudi Arabian embassy in the United States. The lawyer is alleged to have played a part in persuading the young trans woman, Eden Knight, to return to her home country, Saudi Arabia, where she subsequently took her own life.
Eden Knight, a 23-year-old student living in the United States, embraced her transgender identity during the COVID-19 lockdowns. She had expressed a desire to apply for asylum in the US due to the severe challenges faced by transgender individuals in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, after returning to her home country in March 2023, she ended her life.
In Saudi Arabia, members of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender people, endure significant persecution. Same-sex relationships are criminalized with severe penalties, including death, and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights can lead to imprisonment. Knight’s tragic story highlights these harsh realities.
Eden Knight's Distress and Allegations
In a deeply moving suicide note shared on social media, Knight recounted her experiences. She alleged that her conservative family had engaged American "fixers" and a Saudi lawyer to coerce her into returning to Saudi Arabia. According to Knight, these agents placed her in temporary accommodation, where her possessions were discarded, and she was pressured to de-transition with promises of food and shelter.
Once back in Saudi Arabia, Knight claimed she was denied access to hormone therapy and underwent frequent searches for any hidden medication. "I did everything they asked," she wrote. "I cut my hair, stopped taking estrogen, and changed my wardrobe." She expressed a profound weariness after multiple searches revealed her attempts to maintain her transition.
"I wanted to be a leader for people like me, but that wasn’t to happen," Knight lamented in her note. "I hope the world gets better for us. I hope our people get old. I hope we get to see our kids grow up to fight for us. I hope for trans rights worldwide."
Connections to the Saudi Embassy
The BBC's investigation identified the lawyer mentioned in Knight’s note as Bader Alomair. Alomair is reported to have worked at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington, D.C., and is linked to other cases involving Saudi nationals returning from the US.
In messages to friends, Knight described a lawyer named Bader, believed by the BBC to be Alomair, who allegedly forced her to de-transition and incorrectly told her she could not apply for asylum while in the United States. This information has been contested by a US immigration expert who described the advice as erroneous.
Knight further alleged that the lawyer assisting her with asylum was secretly collaborating with her parents. Although she claimed to possess evidence of this betrayal, she did not disclose its specifics.
Reports suggest Alomair played a role in other situations involving Saudi students in the US, including those left homeless by natural disasters and others facing various criminal charges. A source recounted Alomair attending meetings with documents titled by the Saudi embassy, which students were asked to sign, pledging to repay legal fees upon their return to Saudi Arabia. Allegedly, these students often failed to appear for subsequent legal proceedings.
BBC and Further Inquiries
Despite repeated requests, Bader Alomair and the Saudi embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond to inquiries from the BBC. The unfolding story has attracted significant attention, prompting further inquiries into the practices of certain legal representatives and embassy officials concerning Saudi nationals in the US.
Meanwhile, the FBI had previously alerted in 2019 that Saudi officials might be assisting citizens in evading legal prosecution in the US by facilitating their departure.
If you or someone you know is in distress, resources are available to provide support. For those in the UK, contact Samaritans at 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Line is available at 1-800-273-8255.
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