Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, 29, a war correspondent for Il Foglio and Chora Media, was arrested on December 19 while reporting in Tehran, Iran. She is being held in solitary confinement at Evin prison, a notorious facility that mostly detains individuals facing security charges.
The Italian foreign ministry has confirmed her arrest but says it is working with the Iranian government to clarify Sala’s situation. The embassy and consulate are monitoring the case closely, with Ambassador Paola Amadei visiting Sala on Friday. Tajani assured that Sala is in good health condition.
Human rights groups have criticized Evin prison for its poor human rights record. Chora Media has condemned Sala’s arrest as “arbitrary” and called for her immediate release. Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic party, urged the government to act swiftly to bring Sala home.
Sala had been in Iran on a journalist visa, publishing reports on various topics including the fall of Kabul and the crisis in Venezuela. She has nearly half a million followers on Instagram and is a regular guest on Italian talkshows. Despite Iran’s denial of detaining Sala, experts believe she may be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations with other countries.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/27/italian-journalist-arrested-held-solitary-confinement-iran-cecilia-sala