Syria agrees to a two-stage release of 128 rebel activists locked in the prison of Adra (Damascus). The first 64 were freed yesterday; the rest will be let go over the weekend. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Assad's main enemy, threatens to arrest all the women driving a car.

Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Syria freed 64 women prisoners yesterday, following pressures from Turkey, Qatar and Lebanon. The women had been imprisoned for over a year in Adra Prison, northeast of the capital. The act of clemency is part of an agreement between the Syrian regime and Turkey, Qatar and Lebanon. By the end of this week, another 64 women arrested for ties with the rebels will also be released. Most of them are from Damascus province.

"Syrian authorities have ordered some prisoners to leave Syrian territory while others were given a choice to stay or leave," said Sima Nassar, a human activist involved in the mediation.

Among those released were a Lebanese, two Palestinians and a Syrian who had been imprisoned because she is related to two dissidents.

The other women released from notorious Adra prison are humanitarian activists. According to Nassar, one of them is a widow who has cancer.

The involvement by Turkey and Qatar on behalf of (Syrian) women is in stark contrast to the position taken by Saudi Arabia, which is the two countries' main ally in the war against Assad.

Riyadh, which just refused a seat as a non-permanent member in the UN Security Council accusing the latter of doing nothing for Syria, has adopted domestic policies that are very similar to those of the Syrian dictatorship.

Still, opposition by Saudi authorities to the right-to-drive campaign has proven controversial. The online campaign has so far been signed by 16.000 people. Its goal is to get the government to drop its ban on women drivers on the grounds that it is against Islamic law.

For tomorrow, the organisers' planned action is to get thousands of women out to drive in their cars. Today however, the Interior Ministry warned those who want to join the protest that no violation of the law would be tolerated.

After a similar event organised in 2011, the authorities arrested activists Manal al Sharif and Sheima Jastaniah. The first was released after ten days. The second, who was sentenced to ten lashes, was pardoned by King Abdullah.

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• arabia
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