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My statement on the release of Loujain al-Hathloul

The Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been campaigning for women's rights for years, especially against violence and discrimination against women. She publicly protested against regulations that prohibited women from driving cars. In 2018, she was arrested in the United Arab Emirates, brought to Saudi-Arabia and briefly detained, then set free - only to be arrested again in May the same year. She had been imprisoned since then. Now, Loujain al-Hathloul has been released.

As Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the Arabian Peninsula, I welcome this step. However, it can only be a start.

It is important to remember that Ms. al-Hathloul is released, but not free. She was able to leave prison, however, her sentence was only suspended and a travel ban is still imposed on her. I invite Saudi Arabia to revise the case of the other women activists currently detained in Saudi detention centres, as well as the case of Sakharov Prize winner Raif Badawi, who has been detained for more than eight years for political reasons.

My statement on the website of the DARP Delegation

"Statement by the Chair on the release of Loujain al-Hathloul"

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