The co-founder of the Saudi Liberal Network, Souad al-Shammari, who was imprisoned in Saudi Arabia along with Raif Badawi for insulting Islam, has been released this week.

LI member, Partido de la Libertad Individual (P-Lib – Spain), which has led a long campaign for the release of Mr. Badawi, welcomed the news. Party leader Mr. Juan Pina said:

The release of Ms al-Shammari is excellent news and I believe this could also be a good sign on the road towards the further release of liberal blogger Raif Badawi and other prominent Saudi Human Rights activists.

Speaking of the direct actions P-Lib have taken, Mr. Pina continued:

Spanish liberals have organized demonstrations in front of the Saudi embassy for their release. I hope that now, after the new King has been crowned, the Saudi regime will better understand it can no longer ignore the international community and its own people, who wish for a more free, more modern and more democratic Saudi Arabia.

Ms. Al-Shammari’s release comes after global outrage at the sentence – 1,000 lashes and 10 years’ imprisonment – handed down to Mr. Badawi for blasphemy. Earlier this year Saed Karajah, the leader of LI cooperating organisation, the Arab Alliance for Freedom and Democracy, told LI News:

The Quran is clear in addressing this issue: the Prophet Mohamed doesn’t have the right to force people to follow his teachings.

Despite world-wide protests, Raif Badawi remains in Prison in Saudi Arabia but has not received the 50 lashes per week sentence for the last two weeks on medical grounds.