Iranian-born Journalist Arrives in Israel

Neda Amin, the Iranian-born journalist who fled Iran in 2014 and was expelled from Turkey last month, arrived in Israel Thursday after being granted an entry visa by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri this past Sunday.

Amin, 32, fled Iran in 2014 after her book Zenjir (“The Chain”) was banned. She lived in Turkey for three years as a political refugee, during which time she began contributing to the Times of Israel’s Farsi-language website.

But in early July officials in Ankara notified her that her refugee status had been revoked, accusing her of spying for Israel. They gave her 30 days to leave the country, prompting fears that she would be deported back to Iran, where she would likely face a lengthy prison sentence, torture or even the death penalty both for criticizing the Islamic Republic and for writing for an Israeli publication.

Interior Minister Deri greeted Amin with a “Welcome to Israel” Tweet,