After six years in prison and two months in exile, Iranian journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi has been released.

Zeidabadi was serving his time in exile in the city of Gonabad in northeastern Iran, but allowed on leave to visit his family in Tehran. On July 23, 2015, the authorithies reportedly informed the family by phone that Zeidabadi didn’t have to return to Gonabad.

Zeidabadi was sentenced to six years in prison and five years in exile In December 2009. He was also given a lifelong ban on engaging in political activities and practicing journalism.

Having served his full prison sentence, it was hoped that upon his release on May 21, 2015, he would be free to live in peace. However, two days before his sentence was due to finish, his wife Mehdieh Mohammadi posted on Facebook that he was being sent directly from prison to exile in Gonabad, northwestern Iran.

“We were waiting for Ahmad to be released on May 21 after six years in prison, but now they say they will take him to exile from prison. We feel so oppressed,” she wrote.

While in prison, Zeidabadi received two international awards for his attempts to uphold freedom of speech.

Read also:

The Unjust Exile of Ahmad Zeidabadi

101 Journalists Protest Exile of Ahmad Zeidabadi

Or read more about Ahmad Zeidabadi on his profile.