Prominent Saudi women’s rights activist released from prison

Riyadh: Loujain al-Hathloul, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent women’s rights campaigners, was released on Wednesday after spending over 1,000 days in prison for what critics have called as politically-motivated charges.
Hathloul will remain on probation for three years following her release, during which time she could be arrested for any perceived illegal activity and she will also be banned from traveling for five years, her family said in a statement in December last year, reported CNN.
The 31-year-old activist was arrested in a May 2018 sweep that targeted well-known opponents of the kingdom’s since-rescinded law barring women from driving.
In December 2020, Riyadh’s Specialized Criminal Court had sentenced Hathloul to five years and eight months in prison, including a two-year and 10-month suspension, according to her family’s statement. With the time she had already served, the sentencing paved the way for Hathloul’s release on Wednesday.
Release political prisoners: US to Saudi Arabia Hathloul’s release comes after the White House has called on Saudi Arabia to release political prisoners, including women’s rights activists with President Joe Biden has vowed to pressure Saudi Arabia into improving its rights record, according to CNN.
“We’re excited (about her release), but the fight for justice is not over yet… We would have to work very hard to secure justice for Loujain, but we’re very delighted for this news,” Hathloul’s brother, Walid al-Hathloul, told CNN before the announcement.