Italian officials have reported that a war correspondent from Italy has been detained in Iran for over a week. Cecilia Sala, aged 29, was taken into custody on December 19, according to the Italian foreign ministry. However, news of her arrest was only disclosed on Friday. No specific reason was provided by authorities for her detention.
Known for her work as a prominent journalist with Il Foglio newspaper and as the host of the daily podcast “Stories” on Chora Media, Sala finds herself held at the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. This facility has garnered a reputation for its inhumane treatment of political detainees since the 1970s. Sala had left Rome for Iran on December 12 with a valid journalist’s visa. During her time in Tehran, she successfully produced three podcast episodes and penned several articles.
One of Sala’s noteworthy reports from Iran highlighted the growing trend of women choosing not to wear the hijab as a form of protest against the country’s leadership. Additionally, she conducted an interview with an Iranian stand-up comedian who had previously been incarcerated in the nation.
While Sala was scheduled to return to Italy on December 20, she never made it to the airport. Her phone communication abruptly ceased on December 19, as per Chora Media. Iranian officials have not provided immediate verification of her arrest.
Il Foglio expressed support for Sala, emphasizing her passion for shedding light on Iran’s restricted information environment. The paper reinforced the notion that journalism is a vital profession that should not be criminalized.
In a separate incident preceding Sala’s detention, Italian authorities apprehended an Iranian individual suspected of supplying drone components to Iran’s military. The 38-year-old man is facing extradition to the United States, according to Italian officials.
Following Sala’s arrest, Iran summoned a high-ranking Italian diplomat in response to the detainment of an Iranian national. This diplomatic exchange underscores the increasingly complex relations between the two nations in the wake of recent events.
