Since 1999, the year he became eligible for release, all his parole requests have been rejected except one in 2013, when he was granted release on the condition that he be expelled from France.

When his request was granted that year, then-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton contacted French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, saying in diplomatic cables revealed by WikiLeaks: "Although the French government has no legal authority to overturn the Court of Appeal's decision, we hope French officials might find another basis to challenge the decision's legality."

French Interior Minister Manuel Valls then refused to proceed with the order and Abdallah remained in jail.