Cecilia Sala, Italian Journalist, Freed From Iranian Prison
The Italian government confirmed that Cecilia Sala, a journalist and podcaster from Italy, was released from prison in Iran.
The Prime Minister’s office has confirmed that Giorgia is returning to Italy. She called Sala’s parents personally to let them know of this development.
Sala was held in solitary confinement at the Evin prison of Iran in Tehran, since December 19. Meloni released a social media statement saying that her release was the result of “intense diplomatic and intelligence work.”
E in volo l’aereo che riporta a casa Cecilia Sala da Teheran.
Grazie a un intenso lavoro sui canali diplomatici e di intelligence, la nostra connazionale e stata rilasciata dalle autorita iraniane e sta rientrando in Italia. Ho informato personalmente i genitori della giornalista…
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) January 8, 2025
Meloni added: “I would like to thank all who made Cecilia’s reunion possible. She was able to embrace her colleagues and family again.”
Her arrest followed days after Italy detailed Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini who was suspected of supplying drone tech that was used to kill U.S. troops. Iran claimed she violated “the Islamic Republic laws,” but did not specify how. It also denied that the two cases were linked.
Sala is a prominent Italian journalist, podcaster and reporter for Chora Media. She was in Iran for interviews and research. Last week, she spoke with her parents over the phone and described the harsh conditions in the Evin Prison where she had to sleep on the ground without a mattress. This prison is notorious for holding journalists, foreigners and filmmakers like Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof.
Iran’s authoritarian government has imprisoned and arrested several other filmmakers in the past, including Mohgan Ilanlou of Leila’s Brother and Saeed Roustayi.
