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. Blogger Eman al-Nafjan, retired lecturer Aziza al-Youssef and academic Rokaya al-Mohareb were freed, one of their relatives told AFP, as the women face trial in Riyadh’s criminal court on charges that include contact with foreign media, diplomats and human rights groups. “The criminal court in Riyadh announces the provisional release of three detainees,” the official Saudi Press Agency said, without naming them.
