Two prominent women’s rights activists have been released from detention in Saudi Arabia, a human rights group has confirmed.
Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sadah had been detained for nearly three years, first arrested in August 2018 as part of a crackdown on dissent in the Kingdom.
“Human rights defenders Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sadah have been released following the expiry of the sentences against them,” ALQST for Human Rights said in a tweet on Sunday.
BREAKING: prominent #Saudi women human rights defenders Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sadah have been released following the expiry of the sentences against them. pic.twitter.com/m1qEPLvpuH
— ALQST for Human Rights (@ALQST_En) June 27, 2021
The two women have been campaigners for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, working to end the male guardianship system that prevents women from making major decisions about their own lives.
Badawi received the United States’ International Women of Courage Award in 2012 for her work challenging the guardianship system. She was among the first women to sign a petition asking for women to be allowed to drive, and to vote and run as candidates in local elections.
Sadah, is also a prominent campaigner for women’s rights, and ran as a candidate in the 2015 local elections, when women ran for the first time. Her candidature was ultimately withdrawn by authorities.
Today, Saudi human rights defenders Samar Badawi & Nassima al-Sadah are finally home.
— Mai El-Sadany (@maitelsadany) June 27, 2021
Samar and Nassima had been active in calling for lifting the driving ban & challenging the guardianship system. Nassima was also a co-founding member of Al-Adalah Center for Human Rights. pic.twitter.com/R1XqVQLMKf
Although the women have been released from detention, their movements are still strictly controlled – unable to travel outside of Saudi Arabia, use social media or take part in work.
Their release comes months after Loujain al-Hathloul was released from detention by Suadi authorities after spending 1000 days behind bars. She had also campaigned for the end of the driving ban for women and the male guardianship system.