Iranwire – Yashar Soltani, a journalist imprisoned for exposing several corruption cases, was released from Tehran’s Fashafoyeh Prison on Monday.
Upon release, Soltani shared a photo of himself and wrote, “I was unexpectedly imprisoned, which was certainly difficult. However, this second experience of imprisonment was ultimately beneficial and different.”
Soltani, who has worked with Memari News and Eskan News, was arrested on June 11 to serve a 14-month prison sentence. The judiciary confirmed the sentence following multiple private lawsuits against him.
Soltani gained recognition for uncovering the Tehran Municipality’s property scandal, which officials initially denied but later proved true.
He was first arrested in 2016 after publicizing documents related to the luxury housing scandal and the misuse of Lavizan Park during the wedding of Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s daughter.
Ashtari was initially sentenced to 24 months in prison by a lower court for reporting on the assault of a soldier in Babol. This sentence was later reduced to 14 months on appeal. He is known for revealing Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s family’s trip to Turkey.
Vahid Ashtari, another media activist, was also released from prison on Monday.