A Canadian researcher whose criminal conviction in Algeria was criticized by human rights groups was released from prison Thursday after an appeal court reduced his sentence.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 feeling good, honestly, a little tired from the procedures of getting out of prison, but overall, I香蕉视频直播檓 feeling good,香蕉视频直播� Raouf Farrah said in a phone interview shortly after his release.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 really looking forward to seeing my daughter again, my wife, to eat with my parents, to talk, to reunite with my family 香蕉视频直播� the simple things in life.香蕉视频直播�

Farrah, a former Montreal resident who studies migration and criminal economies for an international non-governmental organization, was convicted earlier this year of publishing secret information and being paid to commit offences against public order. He has been detained since February.

Human Rights Watch and Farrah香蕉视频直播檚 employer, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, have condemned the charges as being without merit. His release came after a court in the eastern Algerian city of Constantine reduced his sentence from two years to eight months.

Farrah said he tried to make the best of his time in prison. 香蕉视频直播淚 think anyone who has their freedom taken away automatically finds themselves in what I would say is an uncomfortable situation, but I did everything I could to stay calm, focused and motivated,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Kouceila Zerguine, Farrah香蕉视频直播檚 lawyer, said he is now seeking to have his client香蕉视频直播檚 conviction reviewed by the Supreme Court of Algeria. 香蕉视频直播淭his isn香蕉视频直播檛 a victory, we香蕉视频直播檙e relieved by the fact that he香蕉视频直播檚 been released, but the conviction remains,香蕉视频直播� Zerguine said in a phone interview.

The Global Initiative said in a news release Thursday that it welcomes the sentence reduction 香蕉视频直播� though it reiterated that Farrah should never have been convicted.

Farrah香蕉视频直播檚 wife, Lara Pocock, said she feels like a weight has been lifted off her chest. Pocock said she feared that Farrah香蕉视频直播檚 sentence would be upheld at the appeal hearing and had remained at their home in neighbouring Tunisia, planning to visit him in prison on Monday.

香蕉视频直播淭he feeling is really relief and pure joy,香蕉视频直播� she said in a phone interview. 香蕉视频直播淚 had prepared myself for the worst case scenario. I didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to be once again harbouring false hopes and then being too sad today.香蕉视频直播�

She said she is looking forward to being reunited with Farrah soon and is excited that their four-year-old daughter will see her father for the first time since February.

Born in Algeria, Farrah moved to Canada when he was 18. He lived in Montreal, where he studied at the Universit茅 de Montr茅al, before getting a master香蕉视频直播檚 degree at the University of Ottawa.

READ ALSO: Algeria jails Canadian researcher for 香蕉视频直播榩ublishing secret information香蕉视频直播�