Five women's rights activists detained for weeks in China for staging protests and calling on government to prevent crimes against women were released by police Monday, lawyers representing the women said.

Liang Xiaojun, one of the lawyers for the activists, said Beijing police had to release the women after prosecutors decided not to immediately press charges.

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The women activists were arrested and detained early last month after trying to move their protest site on public transport. The women have been demonstrating for weeks against sexual harassment on women and fighting for women's rights in key cities in Beijing.

Reports said the police had asked the prosecutors last week to indict all five women with organizing a crowd to disturb peace and public order after receiving complaints from Beijing residents about the women's 'rowdiness.'

The women, known to some as the' Feminist Five', were freed on bail but Liang said Chinese police will be monitoring their every move and their activities will be closely monitored for one year.

Reports said investigation into their activities will be ongoing and they will not be able to travel without the authorities' approval.

The Beijing police warned that the activists can be interrogated and  detained at any time once they start organizing again.

The five women activists have been identified as Li Tingting, 25; Zheng Churan, 25; Wu Rongrong, 30; Wei Tingting, 26 and Wang Man, 33.

Five more women activists are still detained on allegations that they were 'provoking quarrels' and disturbing the peace.

The detention of the five women activists has sparked international outrage with no less than Hillary Clinton slamming China for 'gagging' the women in their fight against sexual harassment and crimes against women in China in her tweet

Government officials in the United Kingdom as well as a United States ambassador to the United Nations earlier lambasted China and called on the country to release the five activists immediately.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power has issued a scathing and critical statement against China demanding that the women be released immediately.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday demanded that the activists be released 'unconditionally and immediately' by Chinese authorities.

China retaliated against Clinton's tweet and statements from international figures, admonishing  the latter not to 'meddle' in China's affairs.

TagsFeminist Five, Sexual Harassment, crimes against women