Cecilia Sala Is Free, Returns to Italy
An announcement from the government's Chigi Palace: “The plane that will take the journalist home took off a few minutes ago from Tehran”
Cecilia Sala is free and is returning to Italy. The journalist for Il Foglio and Chora Media was arrested on December 19 in Iran, where she was on a regular work permit.
News of the arrest was kept secret for several days until it was made public on December 27: Sala was being held in Evin Jail. Her arrest was linked to the arrest of Iranian national Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, which occurred in Italy, at Malpensa Airport, on December 16, at the request of the United States.
The two arrests appear to be linked, as Iranian sources initially acknowledged. However, on January 7, the viewpoint changed, with Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokeswoman for the Islamic Republic government, saying that Cecilia Sala’s arrest was “in no way a retaliation” for what happened to Najafabadi, adding: “We hope that the journalist’s problem will be resolved quickly.”
The statements came a day after Georgia Meloni traveled to Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where she met with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. At the center of the discussions was Cecilia Sala.
On January 8, the Italian government finally issued a statement on the journalist’s release: “The plane on which journalist Cecilia Sala is returning home left Tehran a few minutes ago. Thanks to intensive work through diplomatic and intelligence channels, our compatriot was released by the Iranian authorities and is returning to Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanks all those who facilitated Cecilia’s return, allowing her to reunite with her family and colleagues.”
