An Italian journalist, Cecilia Sala, has been detained in Tehran, Iran, while reporting on the country’s shifting landscape. Sala, a war correspondent for Il Foglio newspaper and Chora Media podcast company, was arrested on 19 December and held in solitary confinement for a week.
Italy’s foreign ministry has been closely monitoring Sala’s case and working with Iranian authorities to clarify her legal situation. Sala, who was in Iran on a regular journalist visa, has been allowed to make two phone calls to her relatives and was visited by the Italian ambassador, Paola Amadei, in Evin prison.
Evin prison, where Sala is being held, is known for housing detainees facing security charges and has faced criticism for human rights abuses. Sala’s arrest has sparked outcry from her colleagues and supporters, with calls for her immediate release.
Sala, who has a significant following on social media and is a regular guest on Italian talk shows, has covered various global conflicts and crises in her reporting. The Italian government and opposition leaders are urging for swift action to bring Sala back to Italy.
Iran has not officially acknowledged Sala’s detention, but it is not uncommon for the country to use prisoners with western ties as bargaining chips in negotiations. The situation remains tense as efforts continue to secure Sala’s release and ensure her safety.
