At least 10 Saudi women have appeared in court for the first time since being detained last year without charge.
Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on activists seeks to pacify international criticism over last year's brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, with the detention of these women garnering more criticism on the kingdom’s human rights record.
Women’s rights activists Loujain al-Hathloul, Hatoon al-Fassi, Aziza al-Yousef and Eman al-Nafjan were among those who attended Riyadh's criminal court, where they were presented with charges raised against them.
Family members of the women charged were allowed to attend the opening court session, but foreign journalists and Western diplomats were not permitted in court.