Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala Freed by Iran After Weeks in Detention

Cecilia Sala, the 29-year-old Italian journalist detained in Iran for nearly three weeks, has been released and is on her way back to Italy, according to the Italian government.

Sala was arrested on 19 December 2024, just days after an Iranian engineer, Mohammad Abedini, was detained by Italian authorities in Milan.

Abedini is suspected of supplying drone technology linked to the deaths of US soldiers, and it is believed that Sala’s arrest may have been tied to this incident.

Reports indicated that Sala was held in solitary confinement at Tehran’s infamous Evin prison during her detention. While the exact circumstances surrounding her release remain unclear, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office confirmed the news, stating that “intense diplomatic and intelligence efforts” were involved in securing her freedom.

Meloni expressed her gratitude, thanking all those who contributed to Sala’s release. She personally informed Sala’s parents of the good news. According to the Ansa news agency, Sala’s flight had already left Tehran and was expected to arrive in Rome at 15:30 local time (14:30 GMT) on Wednesday.

Speaking to Ansa, Sala’s partner, journalist Daniele Raineri, said: “I spoke to her, and she told me, ‘I’ll see you soon.’ She was emotional and overjoyed.”

The news of Sala’s detention in Tehran sparked outrage in Italy, dominating headlines since her arrest was made public by her employer, Chora Media, on 27 December. Prime Minister Meloni is understood to have taken a personal interest in the case, and discussions about Sala’s detainment were likely raised during her weekend meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump. Outgoing US President Joe Biden is also scheduled to visit Rome later this week.

Initially, Iranian authorities stated that Sala had been detained for “violating the Islamic Republic’s laws,” but US officials suggested that her arrest could be related to Abedini’s detention. Abedini faces charges in Milan, and some have speculated that Sala was being used as “political leverage” in connection with his case.

Though Tehran has recently downplayed any links between the two incidents, the head of Italy’s foreign intelligence service, Giovanni Caravelli, is believed to have traveled to Tehran personally to help facilitate Sala’s release.

In an emotional statement, Sala’s father, Renato Sala, expressed pride in his daughter’s return and praised the Italian government for its “exceptional work.” He described the situation as a “game of chess, but with more than two players,” acknowledging the complex diplomatic negotiations involved in securing her freedom.