Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been arrested in Tehran, Iran, according to a statement from Italy’s foreign ministry. Sala was detained on December 19 after allegedly violating Iranian laws, and her case is currently under investigation.
The Italian Embassy in Tehran has been informed of her arrest, and Ambassador Paola Amadei visited Sala in prison on Friday to verify the conditions of her detention. Despite this visit, details about the charges against Sala remain unknown.
Sala was reporting in Iran when she was stopped by Tehran police, and her employer, Il Foglio, claims she is being held at Evin prison. The publication’s editor, Claudio Cerasa, has expressed concern over Sala’s detention, stating “Journalism is not a crime. Let’s bring Cecilia Sala home.”
The Italian government has worked with Iranian authorities to clarify the situation and ensure Sala’s protection. A lawyer is expected to visit Sala in the near future, and the foreign ministry hopes for her swift release.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/30/middleeast/iran-confirms-arrest-cecilia-sala-intl/index.html