Saudi women drivers Hathloul and Alamoudi released: AFP

Two Saudi women who tried to defy a ban on female driving, have been released after more than two months in jail, news agency AFP reported.

“Yes, Loujain is free,” said a campaigner who spoke with Loujain Hathloul after she left prison.

Hathloul “just said that she’s released and she’s happy,” said the activist, who did not give a name.

Maysaa Alamoudi, detained at the same time as Hathloul, has also been let out of jail, her family confirmed, according to the activist who spoke with AFP.

“Peace be upon you, good people,” Hathloul tweeted late on Thursday.

She and Alamoudi had been held since December 1, after Hathloul tried to drive into the kingdom from the neighbouring United Arab Emirates.

Alamoudi, a UAE-based Saudi journalist, arrived at the border to support Hathloul and was also arrested.

Upon ascending to the Saudi throne on 23 January, King Salman ordered a general amnesty to prisoners of ‘public rights.’ Since then, a number of detained prisoners have been released including ‎activist Suad al-Shammary, who co-founded the Saudi Liberal Network discussion group with blogger Raef Badawi.

Saudi Arabia is unique in its ban on women driving, a topic which is widely debated in the Kingdom’s local media, Shura Council and social circles.