Saudi Arabia accused of banning women’s rights activists from leaving the country

Former political prisoners face lengthy travel restrictions to stop them speaking out, says human rights organisation

Saudi Arabia is banning large numbers of its own citizens from leaving the country in a cruel" attempt to silence criticism, say human rights activists.

High-profile women's rights campaigners, including Loujain al-Hathloul, who pushed for the right for women to drive in Saudi Arabia, and Maryam al-Otaibi, one of three sisters targeted by the authorities for their activism, appear to have been given long travel bans. These restrictions frequently extend to family members.