“Florida Man Faces Pressure to Renounce U.S. Citizenship Over Tweets Criticizing Saudi Arabia”
Saudi Arabia is reportedly forcing Saad Almadi, a 74-year-old Florida retiree, to renounce his American citizenship after jailing him for over a year due to social media posts critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Almadi, a dual Saudi-American national, is among at least four individuals facing similar pressure, according to a U.S.-based Middle East human rights group.
Almadi’s son, Ibrahim, revealed that after his father’s release from prison, Saudi officials imposed an exit ban, preventing him from returning to his Boca Raton home. In November, Almadi was allegedly summoned to a Riyadh villa and told the exit ban would be lifted if he gave up his U.S. citizenship.
“They don’t want to upset their ally’s feelings,” Ibrahim said, criticizing the U.S. government’s muted response. He compared the situation to how the U.S. might react if the roles were reversed with countries like Russia or North Korea.
Saudi Arabia, which doesn’t recognize dual citizenship, regularly denies accusations of silencing dissent and claims its actions are part of a broader crackdown on corruption and security threats. However, critics say these measures align with efforts to suppress even mild criticism of the crown prince, including threats of imprisonment and exit bans.
Almadi was arrested in 2021 during a family visit to Saudi Arabia, where officials confronted him about years-old tweets he posted while in the U.S. The tweets referenced topics like the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the crown prince’s consolidation of power. Almadi was sentenced to 19 years in prison on terrorism-related charges before being released after more than a year.
The case underscores lingering tensions in U.S.-Saudi relations, which have been fraught since the 2018 killing of Khashoggi. While President Biden initially vowed to hold Saudi leaders accountable, his administration has softened its stance in response to geopolitical and economic pressures, including rising gas prices.
As Saudi-U.S. relations continue to evolve, Almadi’s plight highlights the risks faced by dual nationals caught in the crossfire of international diplomacy and authoritarian crackdowns.
Saudi Arabia Faces Scrutiny for Pressuring U.S. Citizens to Renounce Their Nationality
Saudi Arabia has been accused of forcing a Florida retiree, Saad Almadi, to attempt to relinquish his American citizenship after imprisoning him over critical social media posts. Almadi’s case, highlighted by his son, underscores a growing trend of pressure against dual U.S.-Saudi nationals.
Under U.S. law, giving up citizenship requires a deliberate, voluntary process, which has not occurred in Almadi’s case, according to the State Department. The department emphasized that Almadi remains a U.S. citizen and is receiving consular support, stating they are advocating for his freedom and return to the U.S.
Abdullah Alaoudh of the Middle East Democracy Center noted that Almadi is one of four known dual citizens facing similar pressure. “They are kind of forcing him,” Alaoudh said, describing Almadi’s ordeal as the most severe.
Human rights groups have urged the Biden administration to push for the release of Americans and their families detained or banned from leaving Saudi Arabia, including individuals like Aziza al-Yousef, a green card holder and women’s rights activist.
The U.S.’s response is further complicated by its alliance with Saudi Arabia, a key partner in economic and geopolitical strategies, including the Abraham Accords and counterterrorism efforts. Critics argue that such ties may hinder decisive action against Riyadh’s human rights violations.
For Almadi’s son, however, diplomacy offers little comfort. After years of advocating for his father, he expressed frustration with the lack of progress. “Words can’t describe it,” he said, having relocated to Washington to dedicate himself to securing his father’s release. “I used to focus on advancing my life. Now, all I think about is how to bring my dad home.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.