After three weeks of detention in Iran, Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been released and is heading back home, Italian officials announced on Wednesday. Sala’s arrest on December 19, 2024, for allegedly violating Islamic law, sparked widespread condemnation in Italy, with the government labeling it “unacceptable”.
Sala, a renowned journalist and war correspondent, had entered Iran on December 13, 2024, with a journalist visa. Her detention was linked to the arrest of Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, wanted by the United States for his alleged role in supplying electronic components to Iran and contributing to a deadly drone attack on a US military base in Jordan.
Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office confirmed Sala’s release, stating that it followed “intensive work on diplomatic and intelligence channels.” Meloni had reportedly informed Sala’s parents of the news and tweeted a statement thanking those who helped secure her release.
The development comes after Meloni’s surprise meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida last weekend. Iranian media acknowledged Sala’s release, citing foreign reports, but Iranian officials have yet to comment on the matter.
Sala’s release has been met with cheers in Italy, where her plight had dominated headlines. Lawmakers have hailed the successful negotiations that led to her freedom, marking a significant diplomatic victory for the Italian government.
