One of Saudi Arabia's most prominent political activists, Loujain al-Hathloul was released on Wednesday, after serving nearly three years in prison on charges that sparked an international uproar over the kingdom's human rights record.
Hathloul was arrested in 2018. She was sentenced to almost six years in prison last December under a broad counterterrorism law for campaigning to end a ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia.
“Loujain is at home!!!!!!” her sister Lina al-Hathloul tweeted and posted a screenshot showing a flushed Loujain beaming on a family video call. The Saudi government hasn't commented on her release.
“I have some welcome news that the Saudi government has released a prominent human rights activist,” Biden said in a speech at the Pentagon, AP reported. French President Emmanuel Macron had called for Hathloul's release last year. Macron tweeted that he “shared the relief of her family".
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said it is important that others who are in a similar situation as Hathloul, should be released and charges against them should be dropped.
Driving was made legal for women in June 2019. The Kingdom started issuing driving licenses to women in 2018 after King Salman released a statement recognising the right of Saudi women to drive in 2017.
Though Hathloul has been released, there is a five-year travel ban on her and three years of probation. Human rights activists have expressed concern and said that if she isn't allowed to leave Saudi Arabia or is forced to stay in probation, there are chances, she could be arrested again.
Hathloul has launched hunger strikes and been vocal about her prison conditions. She has alleged that she has been sexually harassed during interrogations. An appeals court rejected her claims citing a lack of evidence.
