Saudi rights activist released

After a thousand days in prison, Loujain al-Hathloul is free.

Human rights activist, 31, Loujain has become known around the world for campaigning for the right of women in her country, Saudi Arabia, to drive cars.

Arrested in May 2018, a few months before seeing that right finally recognized, from today "Loujain is home !!!", her sister Lina joyfully announced on Twitter, stating that Loujain spent 1,001 days behind bars and also publishing a photo of him

Loujain al-Hathloul was sentenced last December by a criminal court set up to try terrorism cases to five years and eight months in prison, after being accused, according to Saudi sources at the time, of "inciting to change the government regime. of the Kingdom and having cooperated with individuals and entities to advance a foreign agenda ".

The sentence raised a wave of indignation and criticism around the world, which was then mitigated by the news that part of the sentence - two years and ten months - had been suspended.

A concession, however, linked to a commitment by al-Hathloul to "not commit other crimes for another three years", as his sister Lina still reported.

This reduction, coupled with the time he has already spent in prison, has led to his release today, albeit with an obligation to remain in Saudi Arabia for the next five years, according to reports from his family.

The Loujain al-Hathloul affair has contributed from the beginning to increasing international pressure on the Saudi authorities, already accused on several occasions of contempt for human rights, especially after the atrocious murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in which he was even the de facto leader of the Kingdom, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, is implicated.

His release could now ease the tension on Riyadh, especially with Washington and with the new administration of President Joe Biden, who has already shown that he wants to conduct a policy on respect for human rights that is far more severe than that of his predecessor Donald Trump. .