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Saudi Women’s Rights Activist Freed After 104 Days in Jail Without Trial

HeadlineAug 01, 2017

In Saudi Arabia, authorities have freed prominent women’s rights activist Maryam al-Otaibi from prison after she was held 104 days without trial. Maryam al-Otaibi was arrested in April after she accused one of her brothers of domestic abuse, prompting her father to have her locked up on accusations of “disobedience.” At the time of her arrest, Otaibi was protesting the monarchy’s harsh laws prohibiting women from participating in civic life and requiring women to travel with a male guardian outside of the home. She was released Sunday without the permission of her family, and without a male guardian present, as typically required by Saudi law. Her release was hailed by Saudi women’s rights activists, who drew attention to Otaibi’s plight with an online campaign using the hashtag #IAmMyOwnGuardian.

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