Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, detained in Iran for three weeks, was released this Wednesday, January 8, according to an announcement from the Italian government.
Cecilia Sala, 29, who works for the Italian newspaper The Sheet and the podcast company Chora Mediawas arrested on December 19 in Iran for allegedly “violated the laws of the Islamic Republic”.
According to an official statement from the Italian government, the journalist is currently on board a flight returning her from Tehran to Italy, after intensive diplomatic efforts for her release, which reportedly even included a visit by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Mar -a-Lago to meet US President-elect Donald Trump.
Cecilia Sala’s arrest appears to be part of the Iranian regime’s hostage diplomacy, particularly given Iran has linked her case to that of Mohammed Abedini Najafabadi, an Iranian arrested in Italy in December at the request of the United States for suspected arms trafficking.
The Italian government has highlighted its “intense diplomatic and intelligence efforts” to obtain the release of Cecilia Sala. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she had personally informed the journalist’s parents of her release in a phone call.
The latter was held in Iran’s Evin prison, a facility infamous for detaining political prisoners, activists and journalists, often in harsh conditions and with reports of torture and human rights abuses.
Contrary to the assertions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, according to which she was in ” good health “ and treated with ” dignity “Cecilia Sala’s family revealed on January 1 that she was facing disastrous conditions of detention – she slept on the floor and was refused the care package sent by the Italian embassy and even remove your own glasses.
[Édité par Anna Martino]
