An Italian journalist has been detained in Iran for over a week, according to Italy’s foreign ministry. Cecilia Sala, who writes for a prominent newspaper and produces content for a media outlet, was taken into custody by Tehran police on December 19. The foreign ministry is closely monitoring her situation and has confirmed that Rome’s ambassador to Tehran visited her to assess her living conditions. During the visit, she was reportedly allowed to make two phone calls to her family.
The reasons for her arrest remain unclear, and Iranian officials have yet to confirm the detainment. Reports indicate that Sala was held in solitary confinement at Evin prison, a facility known for housing political prisoners. Prior to her arrest, she traveled to Iran on December 12 with a valid journalist visa, conducting interviews and producing episodes for her podcast.
Sala was scheduled to return to Rome on December 20 but lost contact shortly after communicating with family on December 19. Her employer has condemned her detention, affirming that “journalism is not a crime,” and underscored her mission to report on a country marked by repression.
This incident follows a wave of protests in Iran, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in police custody after being arrested for violating hijab laws. The protests, under the banner “Woman, Life, Freedom,” led to the arrest of tens of thousands of individuals across the nation. The international community is watching closely as developments unfold in Sala’s case and the broader context of press freedom in Iran.
