/Saudi-Princess-Basmah-Bin.jpg "Saudi Princess Basmah Bint Saud Al Saud was released from prison on Thursday, after being detained for almost three years. The 57-year-old was released along with her daughter after both were arrested in March 2019. File photo by Michael Reynolds/EPA")
After nearly three years in detention, an outspoken Saudi Princess has been released.
Princess Basmah bint Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was released Thursday following her imprisonment in March 2019 while awaiting a flight to Switzerland for medical treatment.
The vocal supporter for humanitarian relief and Saudi Arabia's constitutional change was arrested alongside her daughter Souhoud Al-Sharif.
Since then, the two have been kept at the maximum-security Al-Ha'ir prison near Riyadh, although neither has been charged with a crime.
"The two ladies were released from their arbitrary detention on Thursday, January 6, 2022, and returned to their home in Jeddah. The Princess is fine but will seek medical assistance. She appears exhausted, but is cheerful and grateful to be reunited with her sons in person "Henri Estramant, her legal counsel, said the Jerusalem Post.
He did not indicate why the two were released, and the Saudi government's motivation and timing remain unknown.
The Princess is the daughter of King Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, who reigned from 1953 to 1964.
The Princess asked for her cousin, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to be released in a series of tweets in 2020. She stated at the time that her health had deteriorated.
