Saudi Arabia Allegedly Pressures Florida Retiree to Give Up US Citizenship After Arrest

Saudi Arabia has pressured a Florida retiree, Saad Almadi, to renounce his American citizenship. Officials detained the 74-year-old after he posted tweets critical of the kingdom’s crown prince. According to Almadi’s son, Ibrahim, the kingdom also banned his father from leaving despite releasing him from prison.

Forced to Sign Documents

In November 2023, Saudi authorities summoned Almadi to a villa in Riyadh. They promised to lift the travel ban if he renounced his US citizenship. Feeling helpless, Almadi eventually signed a document and attempted to return his US passport to the embassy. However, US officials stated that renouncing citizenship requires a voluntary and lengthy process. Thus, Almadi remains a US citizen.

The State Department emphasized its commitment to advocating for Almadi. “We hope he is soon able to rejoin his family in the United States,” a spokesperson said.

Tweets Spark Arrest

In 2021, Almadi traveled to Saudi Arabia to visit family. During his stay, authorities arrested him over tweets posted years earlier in the US. The tweets, which included criticism of the crown prince and comments about journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing, led to terrorism-related charges. Consequently, a Saudi court sentenced him to 19 years in prison.

Although Almadi was released after serving over a year, Saudi officials barred him from leaving the country. Furthermore, his son revealed that Saudi agents harassed Almadi with threatening phone calls after his release.

Strained US-Saudi Relations

The case has added tension to US-Saudi relations. Previously, President Joe Biden vowed to isolate Saudi leaders after US intelligence linked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Khashoggi’s killing. However, rising gas prices during Biden’s presidency prompted a softer stance. For instance, Biden’s 2022 visit to Saudi Arabia featured an awkward fist bump with the crown prince, signaling a shift in tone.

On the other hand, relations may improve under President-elect Donald Trump. Trump’s family has deep business ties with Saudi Arabia. Recently, his company announced a luxury project in Jeddah, and Jared Kushner secured a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

Efforts to Silence Critics

Saudi Arabia has increasingly used exit bans and arrests to silence critics and activists. For example, Aziza al-Yousef, a US green-card holder and women’s rights advocate, remains unable to leave Saudi Arabia. Rights groups argue such actions harm relations and unfairly target dual nationals.

“They are forcing him,” said Abdullah Alaoudh from the Middle East Democracy Center. Additionally, advocates claim such tactics complicate US policy toward its allies.

A Son’s Struggle

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Almadi has put his career on hold to fight for his father’s freedom. He moved to Washington and continues to advocate tirelessly. “Words can’t describe it,” he said. “I used to focus on advancing my life. Now all I think about is how to secure my dad’s release.”