Saudi authorities have released a prominent women’s rights advocate following her detention in a sweeping crackdown against activists a month before the kingdom lifts its ban on women drivers, campaigners say.
Aisha al-Mana, 70, was among at least 11 activists arrested last week, mostly identified by rights groups as veteran women campaigners for the right to drive and to end the conservative Islamic country’s male guardianship system.
“We can confirm Aisha al-Mana’s release, but we don’t know the conditions behind it,” Samah Hadid, Amnesty International’s Middle East director of campaigns, tell AFP.
“We call on Saudi authorities to release all other human rights defenders unconditionally and immediately.”
There was no immediate comment from Saudi officials and the fate of other detained activists remains unclear.
— AFP
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 24, 2018
