Saudi national Homaidan Al Turki to be deported after nearly two decades in US prison

Dubai: Saudi national Homaidan Al Turki, who spent nearly 20 years in a United States prison, is expected to be deported to Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

The 56-year-old was released from prison last month and has since been in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as final deportation procedures are completed.

On Sunday, Al Turki’s family was notified that his repatriation is imminent, with travel arrangements nearing completion.

His family in Saudi Arabia expressed deep gratitude for his release after 19 years behind bars, extending their profound thanks to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their “unwavering support and continuous follow-up” throughout the duration of the case.

In a press statement, the family also commended the efforts of the Saudi Embassy in Washington, led by Ambassador Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan. They noted that both official and public support played a vital role in securing what they described as a “big relief.”

Al Turki was convicted in 2006 on charges of unlawful imprisonment and assault against his Indonesian housekeeper in the state of Colorado, a case that sparked widespread controversy and allegations of judicial bias.

During his time in prison, Al Turki filed several legal motions challenging his conviction, including a recent claim that his original defence counsel failed to provide adequate representation.

The court then resentenced him to six years in prison and a mandatory parole term—both of which were deemed already served due to the 19 years he spent behind bars.
According to local media reports, the court in Colorado ruled last month to close Al Turki’s case and authorise his deportation after he accepted a plea agreement, admitting guilt to 11 amended charges.
The ruling followed a new hearing in which his legal team successfully argued that his original trial was marred by ineffective counsel. The decision ends a legal saga that began in 2004, when Al Turki was first arrested alongside his wife for alleged immigration violations and was later re-arrested in 2006 and sentenced to 28 years in prison. His case drew intense attention both in Saudi Arabia and among Muslim advocacy groups in the US, who argued he was targeted due to rising Islamophobia in the post-9/11 climate.

 Al Turki, the former linguistics scholar and PhD candidate at the University of Denver, maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment, describing himself as a victim of anti-Muslim sentiment.