Lawyer in Saudi trans student's suicide note had embassy links, BBC finds

Eden Knight was a young transgender woman who tragically took her own life in March 2023 after returning to Saudi Arabia. Before her death, she had been living in the United States, where she sought asylum due to the dangers she faced in her home country. Eden had moved to Virginia in 2019 on a scholarship from the Saudi government to study at George Mason University. In early 2022, she made the brave decision to transition from presenting as a man to living as a woman. This change brought her joy and a sense of belonging, as she found a supportive community online through platforms like X and Discord. One of her posts, which featured a side-by-side comparison of her old Saudi ID photo and her new look, went viral and inspired many others to share their own stories of transition. However, being transgender in Saudi Arabia is extremely challenging, as society and the government do not accept individuals who identify as a different gender. Eden's student visa expired around the time her tweet gained popularity, prompting her to seek asylum in the US to remain there permanently. She was connected with a private investigator named Michael Pocalyko, who offered to assist her with her asylum claim and help mend her relationship with her family. Eden was optimistic about her future and moved to Washington DC to file her claim. However, her situation took a dark turn when she met her lawyer, Bader Alomair. Initially, Bader seemed supportive, providing her with a place to stay and taking her out to see the city. But as time went on, Eden began to feel uneasy about his intentions. She confided in friends that Bader was trying to detransition her, attempting to throw away her feminine clothing and advising her to stop hormone therapy. Eden felt trapped and confused, as Bader told her she could not apply for asylum in the US and needed to return to Saudi Arabia to do so. This advice was incorrect, according to a US immigration expert. In December 2022, Eden messaged her friends, saying she was going back to Saudi Arabia with Bader, hoping for the best. Unfortunately, upon her return, her situation deteriorated. Her parents confiscated her passport, and she was instructed to close her social media accounts. Eden expressed to her friends that she believed her parents had hired people to bring her back to Saudi Arabia, and she felt betrayed by Bader, whom she accused of working with her parents behind her back. Over the following months, Eden lost hope of escaping her situation. She took a job at a tech company but had to present herself as her original male identity. Despite her efforts to continue taking female hormones, her parents repeatedly took them away from her. Eden faced constant verbal abuse from her family, and she recorded a video showing the harsh treatment she received. Her friends were deeply concerned for her well-being. Tragically, on March 12, 2023, Eden made the heartbreaking decision to end her life. The investigation into her story revealed the troubling role of Bader Alomair, the lawyer who was supposed to help her. The BBC uncovered that Bader had connections to the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington DC and had previously assisted other Saudi students in controversial situations. The investigation raised questions about the support provided to Saudi students in the US and the potential for manipulation by those in power. Eden's story serves as a powerful reminder of the struggles faced by transgender individuals, particularly in countries where they are not accepted. It highlights the importance of understanding and supporting those who are different from us, as well as the need for safe spaces for individuals to express their true selves.