Investigative Findings on the Lawyer Linked to Saudi Trans Student's Tragic Suicide

An extensive investigation by the BBC has highlighted the troubling role of Bader Alomair, a lawyer connected to a Saudi trans woman's suicide, uncovering his embassy ties and questionable involvement in her return to a hostile environment.

Eden Knight, a Saudi transgender woman, tragically took her own life in March 2023 after returning to Saudi Arabia from the U.S., where she sought asylum. Her suicide note and series of posts highlighted the pivotal role played by a lawyer named Bader Alomair, who she accused of persuading her to return to a family and society that rejected her identity. Investigations by the BBC reveal Alomair’s links to the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington, D.C., suggesting a troubling pattern of influence over vulnerable Saudi students.

Eden Knight, who had previously lived in Virginia under a Saudi government scholarship, transitioned while seeking support from online communities. However, when her student visa expired, she decided to pursue asylum in the U.S. Friends reported that Alomair provided her housing but began to exert control over her life, attempting to thwart Eden's gender transition by advising her against hormone therapy and actively encouraging a return to Saudi Arabia.

Messages shared by friends reveal Eden's rising distress over her situation, suggesting that Alomair was acting in collusion with her family to undermine her pursuit of asylum. After returning to Saudi Arabia, Eden faced a harrowing reality of familial control, loss of freedom, and abuse, leading to her despair and eventual suicide. The investigation also uncovered troubling aspects of Alomair’s work, including a historical pattern of assisting Saudi students who faced legal issues in the U.S.

Despite repeated attempts to reach Alomair for comments on these serious allegations, he has not responded. His purported role in supporting Saudi students remains controversial, raising urgent questions about the implications of such legal support on the safety and well-being of individuals like Eden Knight, seeking escape from oppressive environments. Meanwhile, Eden’s family has chosen not to participate in discussions surrounding her tragic death. This investigation sheds light on the broader challenges faced by transgender individuals in Saudi Arabia, highlighting fears of persecution and violence in an intolerant society.