Cecilia Sala, a journalist for Il Foglio and Chora Media, has been detained in solitary confinement in Evin Prison since December 19. Following her detention, the Italian Foreign Ministry has been closely monitoring her situation and confirmed efforts with Iranian authorities to seek clarification on her legal standing. Sala had traveled to Iran with a valid visa to produce content for her podcast, and her employer is advocating for her release, emphasizing the legitimacy of her journalistic endeavors.
Iran Detains Italian Journalist, Diplomacy in Tension
Iran Detains Italian Journalist, Diplomacy in Tension
Italy's foreign ministry reports that Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist, has been arrested in Iran for over a week under unclear circumstances.
In recent development, it was reported that Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist, has been held by Iranian authorities for more than a week, stirring diplomatic concern between Italy and Iran.
The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Cecilia Sala was detained by Tehran police on December 19 while working on her podcast and conducting interviews in Iran. The ministry is addressing her situation with "utmost attention," and Italy's ambassador to Tehran visited her in Evin Prison to check on her welfare. Despite having a valid journalist visa, there has been no official reason provided for her arrest, raising alarms among her employer and media advocates who stress that "journalism is not a crime." Sala was expected to return to Rome on December 20, but communication ceased the previous day, prompting worries about her well-being. The diplomatic intricacies surrounding her detention follow Iran’s recent summoning of diplomatic representatives, indicating heightened tensions in international relations linked to press freedoms.
The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Cecilia Sala was detained by Tehran police on December 19 while working on her podcast and conducting interviews in Iran. The ministry is addressing her situation with "utmost attention," and Italy's ambassador to Tehran visited her in Evin Prison to check on her welfare. Despite having a valid journalist visa, there has been no official reason provided for her arrest, raising alarms among her employer and media advocates who stress that "journalism is not a crime." Sala was expected to return to Rome on December 20, but communication ceased the previous day, prompting worries about her well-being. The diplomatic intricacies surrounding her detention follow Iran’s recent summoning of diplomatic representatives, indicating heightened tensions in international relations linked to press freedoms.
