Saudi Arabia on Thursday temporarily released three out of 11 women detained nearly a year ago in a broad crackdown on activists, state media said, as the kingdom faces intense global scrutiny over human rights.
"The court will continue to hear their cases and they will attend the trial sessions... until the issuance of the final judgement." Their release follows an emotionally charged second court hearing on Wednesday that saw some of the women breaking down while testifying that they faced torture and sexual harassment in detention.
The government, facing sharp global criticism of its human rights record, denies the women were tortured or harassed.The three released women will have to appear in court next Wednesday when the trial before a three-judge panel resumes. The women had long campaigned for the right to drive and an end to the restrictive guardianship system that gives male relatives arbitrary authority over women.
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