China Frees Domestic-Violence Activists

Five women detained for more than a month for women’s rights campaigning in China were released Monday, following international pressure over the government’s crackdown on social activism. The women were let go on a conditional release that allows the investigation to remain open for another year and could still result in formal charges, according to lawyer Liang Xiaojun. Other lawyers confirmed on social media that their clients had been released. The women were detained last month while preparing to hand out flyers and stickers against domestic violence ahead of International Women’s Day. They were accused of creating a disturbance and could have faced as much as three years in prison if convicted.