Politics Italian journalist released after 20 days in prison in Iran
After more than two weeks in solitary confinement in a prison in Iran, Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been released. According to the Italian government, the 29-year-old is already on a plane on her way to Rome. She is expected to arrive at the airport this afternoon, according to the office of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The case had severely strained relations between the two countries.
09.01.2025, 07:51
SDA
Sala was arrested in Tehran on December 19 - one day before she was due to fly home from a research trip at Christmas. She also had a regular work visa for journalists. The Iranian authorities accused the reporter of violating the Islamic Republic's media laws. Since then, she has been held in strict solitary confinement in the notorious Ewin prison in the Iranian capital.
Complaint about miserable prison conditions
The experienced journalist was only allowed to speak to relatives on the phone a few times. She complained that she had to sleep on the floor without a mattress and with the lights on. Her glasses had also been taken away. Sala works for the daily newspaper "Il Foglio" and runs a popular podcast. She has more than 450,000 followers on Instagram.
The Italian government did not initially comment on the circumstances of her release. According to the daily newspaper "La Repubblica", Sala was only informed of this during the night on Wednesday. The plane then took off back to Rome in the morning.
Speculation about counter-deal due to arrested Iranian
There has been much speculation in recent days that the journalist was taken hostage by Iran in order to prevent the extradition of an Iranian arrested in Italy to the USA. The suspected arms dealer, who also has Swiss citizenship, is accused of supplying drones that were used to kill three US soldiers. Tehran vehemently rejected such accusations.
The case was also the subject of a lightning visit by Meloni to future US President Donald Trump in Florida at the weekend. However, the right-wing head of government has not yet commented on whether she received assurances from Trump. She merely thanked everyone who made the release possible - including the secret services.
Tehran threatens damage to relations with Rome
The reporter's fate has caused a considerable stir far beyond Italy in recent days. The Iranian Foreign Ministry officially protested against the arrest at Milan airport at the request of the USA, calling it a violation of international law. At the same time, Tehran threatened that such an "illegal arrest" and extradition could damage long-standing relations with Italy.
The arrested Iranian is accused of being involved in the delivery of drone parts, which were then used in an attack on US troops in Jordan in January 2023. Three American soldiers were killed in the attack. According to the current schedule, a court in Milan will decide next Wednesday whether the 39-year-old will be extradited to the USA.
Another Italian journalist was detained for 49 days
Both Iran and Italy summoned the ambassadors of the other country to report - which is considered one of the most important means of protest in diplomacy. At the same time, talks about the conditions for the 29-year-old's release had been going on behind the scenes since before Christmas. Another Italian journalist spent a total of 49 days in prison in Iran in 2022.
The father of the "Il Foglio" reporter, Renato Sala, indicated that the negotiations were difficult. "I had the impression that it was like a game of chess - but with more than two players," said Sala, who was a manager at various major banks. "At some point, the chessboard was overcrowded. That caused a lot of anxiety for a parent like me, who didn't know the moves." The banker expressly thanked Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who was his neighbor in Milan.
Sala's partner Daniele Raineri, who also works as a journalist, was able to speak to her on the phone immediately after her release. "She was excited and very happy. I replied to her: "See you in Rome." The plane is expected to arrive at Ciampino airport at 3.30 p.m.
