Skip to Main content

12.83°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Feb 11, 2021 1:22 AM -

Prominent Saudi women's rights activist released from prison

Share On

prominent-saudi-womens-rights-activist-released-from-prison

A human rights defender who graduated from the University of BC has been freed from prison in Saudi Arabia.(Photo - ANI)

A human rights defender who graduated from the University of BC has been freed from prison in Saudi Arabia.

Loujain al-Hathloul has been in a Saudi prison for the last three years and says she was tortured, assaulted and abused while in custody.

She returned to Saudi Arabia after graduating from UBC and was charged with spying for foreign parties and conspiring against the kingdom when she spoke up on behalf of women and demanded an end to the male guardianship system there.

Although she has been released, al-Hathloul is still prevented from leaving Saudi Arabia and Amnesty International is calling on the Saudi government to ensure she does not face further punitive measures, such as a travel ban.

Her sister Lina al-Hathloul posted a screenshot from FaceTime of a smiling Loujain on Twitter, declaring that she was finally home.

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.

Latest news

b-c-homeless-count-shows-rising-numbers-in-12-of-20-communities-surveyed

B.C. homeless count shows rising numbers in 12 of 20 communities surveyed

The British Columbia government says more than half of 20 communities surveyed saw an increase in homelessness since the last count in 2023. The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs says in a statement that the count provides a snapshot of a community's homeless population during a 24-hour period. It says the latest count found 12 of the 20 communities they looked at had an increase in those who were homeless, while eight saw a drop. Many of the cities reporting higher numbers are in the Interior, including Williams Lake, Cranbrook, Merritt, Quesnel, Penticton and Salmon Arm. But the coun

charges-sworn-in-alleged-theft-and-sexual-assault

CanadaOct 02, 2025

Charges Sworn in Alleged Theft and Sexual Assault

Charges have been sworn against a man following a Surrey Police Service (SPS) investigation into an alleged theft and sexual assault that occurred in the early morning hours of August 26, 2025, in the 9800 block of King George Boulevard, Surrey. On August 26, 2025, at approximately 3:10 am, a man was walking in the 9800 block of King George Boulevard, Surrey when he was approached by a stranger, an adult South Asian male. During the interaction between the two, the stranger allegedly stole the man’s cell phone. A short time later, a woman was walking in the same area and was approached by

mla-garry-begg-new-bc-ndp-caucus-chair

MLA Garry Begg new BC NDP Caucus Chair

Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford, has been selected as the new chair of the BC NDP caucus. Begg was first elected MLA in 2017, and re-elected in 2020 and 2024. Before entering politics, he served as an RCMP officer for more than 38 years. Premier David Eby said: “Garry Begg brings with him a lifetime of experience serving the people of British Columbia. Garry will be a great caucus chair, keeping us focused on the needs of the people across the province who sent us here to get results on their behalf. I want to thank Stephanie Higginson for her diligent work, guiding us through the la

another-cbsa-inspection-kiosk-outage-affecting-some-canadian-airports

CanadaOct 02, 2025

Another CBSA inspection kiosk outage affecting some Canadian airports

The Canada Border Services Agency says there is another outage affecting its inspection kiosks at airports across the country. Toronto Pearson International Airport says the outage is affecting Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, where passengers may experience longer wait times. The border agency says it's working to resolve the issue. This is the second CBSA inspection kiosk outage reported in the last few days. An outage over the weekend caused delays at customs in some of Canada's busiest airports before it was resolved. The CBSA has also said that it experienced technical issues earlier this week

niagara-police-arrest-30-people-lay-more-than-200-charges-in-drug-investigation

CanadaOct 02, 2025

Niagara police arrest 30 people, lay more than 200 charges in drug investigation

Police in Niagara Region say 30 people face more than 200 charges after an investigation into an alleged drug trafficking and auto theft network. Police say the investigation dubbed Project Road King began in August 2024 after the force's gang unit uncovered an alleged drug trafficking operation with ties to the region and multiple jurisdictions. They say the force began investigating related criminal activity, including alleged auto theft, with help from several other police units including the RCMP. Police say they executed 12 search warrants in Niagara, Hamilton and Toronto on

Related News

Car and knife attack at UK synagogue on Yom Kippur kills 2 and injures 3

Car and knife attack at UK synagogue on Yom Kippur kills 2 and injures 3

Police have reported that two people were killed and three others were seriously injured in a synagogue attack in northern England. Greater Manchester Police believe the suspect is also dead. The incident occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Police bomb experts are investigating whether the attacker had an explosive device. The attack involved a car being driven at members of the public and a man being stabbed. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his horror at the attack and announced additional police deployment at synagogues across the U.K.

Trump hits Canadian lumber producers with additional 10 per cent tariff

Trump hits Canadian lumber producers with additional 10 per cent tariff

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued new tariffs that could add further pressure on Canadian producers of softwood lumber and furniture. A presidential proclamation on Monday evening set out a 10 per cent duty on imports of softwood timber and lumber, along with a 25 per cent levy on imports of kitchen cabinets and vanities — both parts and completed models — and other upholstered wooden products. The tariffs are scheduled to take effect Oct. 14. The rate applied to kitchen cabinets and vanities is set to jump to 50 per cent on Jan. 1, with the levy on other upholstered wooden products r

Rescuers in desperate search after a powerful earthquake hit the Philippines, killing at least 69

Rescuers in desperate search after a powerful earthquake hit the Philippines, killing at least 69

Rescuers are using backhoes and sniffer dogs to look for survivors in collapsed houses and other damaged buildings in the central Philippines, a day after an earthquake killed at least 69 people. Officials say the death toll is expected to rise from the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit at about 10 p.m. Tuesday. The quake trapped an unspecified number of residents in the hard-hit city of Bogo and outlying rural towns in Cebu province. Army troops, police and civilian volunteers were deployed Wednesday to carry out house-to-house searches. Officials say tntermittment rain and damaged bridges

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital