Prominent Saudi women's rights activist released from prison

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.

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.