Not only detained Italian journalists, difficult liberations: the intense work of intelligence and diplomacy

In recent years many Italians have been held abroad: kidnappings, arrests and diplomatic interventions have brought several compatriots back home. The news of Cecilia Sala’s release in all the world’s newspapers

The releases of Italian citizens detained or kidnapped abroad are stories that intertwine international politics, diplomacy and the courage of the security forces. There are not only arrests, such as that of journalist Cecilia Sala, detained in Iran, but also cases of kidnapping, such as that of volunteers Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, kidnapped in Baghdad in 2004 and freed 21 days later. In 2005, still in Baghdad, it was the turn of Giuliana Sgrena, kidnapped by Islamic Jihad. Her release took place on 4 March, but the tragic epilogue came when Sismi executive Nicola Calipari, in an attempt to protect her with his own body, was shot dead during the transfer to the airport.

Kidnappings in Afghanistan, Syria and the Philippines

Several Italian journalists have been victims of kidnappings in conflict zones. In March 2007, in Afghanistan, Daniele Mastrogiacomo was kidnapped and released 15 days later. In 2013, Domenico Quirico was kidnapped in Syria, together with Belgian Pierre Piccinin, and released in September. Greta Ramelli and Vanessa Marzullo, two young Italian aid workers, are kidnapped in northern Syria in 2014 and released in January 2015. There are also kidnappings in other parts of the world, such as in the Philippines: Rolando Del Torchio was kidnapped in 2015 and only released in April 2016.

Sergio Zanotti, Luca Tacchetto and other recent releases

Between 2019 and 2020, several kidnappings of Italians in contexts of war or terrorism see the light of day with the release of the prisoners. Sergio Zanotti and Alessandro Sandrini, kidnapped in Turkey and taken to Syria, are released after three years. Luca Tacchetto and his Canadian partner Edith Bias, kidnapped in Burkina Faso, return to freedom in March 2020, as does Father Pier Luigi Maccalli, kidnapped in Niger in 2018 and released in 2020 along with Nicola Chiacchio, kidnapped in Mali.

The dramatic story of Silvia Romano and other releases in the Sahel

Another dramatic case is that of Silvia Romano, kidnapped in Kenya in 2018 and released in Somalia in May 2020. In February 2023, Rocco Langone, his wife Maria Donata Caivano and their son Giovanni, kidnapped in May the previous year, were released in the Sahel.

Alessia Piperno and the Evin prison, a parallel with Cecilia Sala

In 2022, the case of Alessia Piperno brings to light the nightmare of Iranian prisons. Arrested in Tehran and released after months of detention, Alessia was locked up in the same prison in Evin where Cecilia Sala was also recently detained. During Piperno’s detention, a violent fire in the Evin prison caused the death of many inmates, raising fears for her safety.

The worldwide echo of Cecilia Sala’s release

Today, 8 January 2025, Cecilia Sala’s release unleashed a global media wave, with widespread coverage by the biggest international news outlets. The story of the Italian journalist, held in solitary confinement in the notorious Evin prison, has attracted the attention of media and governments around the world, marking a crucial point in the complex web of diplomatic relations between Iran and the West. Leading news agencies, such as Reuters and Bloomberg, promptly spread the news of his release, emphasising the active role of Italian diplomacy and the international pressure exerted during his detention.

In the United States, broadcasters such as CNN and NBC News devoted extensive reports to the story, emphasising the importance of delicate and complex diplomatic operations such as the one that brought Sala home. The news quickly spread to Europe as well, where newspapers such as the British The Guardian, the Spanish El País and the French Le Monde reported the story in tones that oscillated between admiration for the perseverance of the Italian diplomatic forces and condemnation of the conditions in Iranian prisons, where political prisoners or journalists inconvenient to the regime are often held.

A particularly interesting aspect of the international coverage was the role played by the Middle Eastern media, which closely observed the unfolding of the situation. The Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya News, in its English-language version, devoted a long in-depth report to the release of the Italian journalist, also reporting statements by official Italian sources. The website headlined: ‘Italian journalist Cecilia Sala freed from Iran prison, Italian PM office says’, highlighting the Italian government’s strong involvement in the affair and the crucial role of diplomatic pressure in resolving such complex cases.

The news was also widely covered in Israel. The Jerusalem Post newspaper, with the headline ‘’A game of chess‘: Italian journalist Cecilia Sala freed from Iranian prison, flying home’, described Sala’s release as the result of a real ‘game of chess’, highlighting the complexity of the negotiations. The newspaper highlighted the diplomatic strategy required to deal with a country like Iran, notoriously unwilling to yield to international pressure, especially when it comes to prisoners linked to the media or political world. The choice of the title recalls the game of tactics and cunning that characterises relations between Iran and the West, with continuous negotiations and under-the-table mediations.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)