Trans Saudi woman Eden Knight feared dead after posting suicide note

A transgender Saudi woman who was living in the US is feared dead after posting a suicide note in which she spoke of her trauma after American "fixers" allegedly entrapped her.

Eden Knight shared on Sunday what she called her "final message" on Twitter, which has racked up 31 million views, telling her 21,900 followers "if you're reading this, I've already killed myself".

In her message she claimed her family admitted to hiring "fixers" and a Saudi lawyer in the US, to bring her back to Saudi Arabia where transgender people face severe discrimination.

The New Arab could not verify Knight's claims.

Knight says the alleged fixer promised to help mend the relationship between her and her parents, who she described as "strict conservative Muslims".

She added that a Saudi lawyer became involved and arranged a temporary apartment for her in the US, but soon became "entirely dependant" on him for shelter.

"If I ran away, he could easily find my location and since I was illegal I would have just been deported to Saudi," she said.

"He tried to de-transition me. I had a breakdown over this," she alleged, saying he eventually booked a flight to Saudi and she returned.

Knight also recounted a "traumatising" experience on her return home, where her parents found her hormone replacement therapy.

She claimed her parents berated her "for being a freak" and was called "a failure and an abomination".

Knight told her followers that she is "done fighting" as she ended her letter by saying: "I hope for trans rights worldwide."

Saudi Arabia criminalises LGBT people and the gender expression of transgender individuals.

There have been "consistent reports of discrimination and violence being committed against" the community in recent years, according to Human Dignity Trust.

When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. If you're in the UK or Ireland, you can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit https://www.samaritans.org/ to find your nearest branch.

Readers in the US can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialling 988 or visiting https://988lifeline.org/chat/.

If you are based elsewhere, you can visit https://findahelpline.com/ or https://www.suicidestop.com/ for details of support options available in your country.