An Italian journalist, Cecilia Sala, was summoned by Italy’s foreign ministry on Wednesday following her arrest in Iran on December 19. Sala, a freelance journalist for Il Foglio newspaper and podcaster, has been held in solitary confinement at Evin prison without adequate living conditions.
Sala reported that she had to sleep on the floor of her cell with only two blankets provided by Iranian authorities. Food was being delivered through a crack in the door, while her reading glasses were confiscated. A neon light remained on in her cell day and night, causing discomfort.
The journalist’s arrest is allegedly linked to Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, a Swiss-Iranian businessman arrested on a US warrant at Milan’s Malpensa airport on December 16. Sala has nearly half a million followers on Instagram and covers international topics, including the fall of Kabul and the crisis in Venezuela.
Evin prison is notorious for detaining opponents of the Iranian regime, journalists, and foreign citizens. The facility holds several high-profile prisoners, including Nobel peace laureate Narges Mohammadi. Despite her medical release from prison, Mohammadi has expressed her struggles with physical and mental health due to prolonged detention.
Italy’s foreign ministry reiterated its demands for Sala’s humane treatment and access to consular assistance during a meeting with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad-Reza Sabouri. The Italian government is working discreetly to resolve the issue, while US officials have criticized Iran’s use of prisoners as leverage.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/02/italy-presses-iran-for-immediate-release-of-journalist-cecilia-sala