Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was detained in Iran during a reporting trip last month, has been released and returned to Italy on Wednesday, the Italian government said in a statement.
The Italian government announced on Wednesday morning that “the plane bringing journalist Cecilia Sala home took off from Tehran a few minutes ago,” adding, “Thanks to the hard work of our diplomatic and intelligence channels, our compatriots have been brought to Iran’s authorities. He was released by,” he added. ”
Sarah, 29, was detained for 20 days and her family said she was kept in an isolation room with only two blankets and constant light.
Fars, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, also reported the news of Salah’s release as a statement from the Italian Prime Minister.
On Wednesday, Sarah’s partner, Daniele Rainelli, said she called her and told her “I have time.”
“I’m so happy,” Rainelli said as he prepared to head to the airport to greet Sara. He said the wait was “excruciating” but Italy had done an “extraordinary job”.
Rainelli said Sara’s plane was scheduled to land in Rome around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Salah, who had a journalist visa, was arrested on December 19 on suspicion of violating Islamic Republic of Iran law, but Iranian officials did not provide further details.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Sara’s parents on Wednesday to inform them of her return to the country, the government said.
This is a developing story.
Rayleigh Nikonazar Contributed to the report.
