Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was arrested in Tehran on December 19, 2024, while reporting on Iranian society. Iranian state media confirmed her detention on Monday, stating that she had “violated the law” during her time in the country. Sala, who traveled to Iran on a journalist’s visa on December 13, was arrested six days later. The official IRNA news agency, citing the Iranian culture ministry, did not provide further details on the nature of the alleged violation.
Italy has condemned Sala’s arrest as “unacceptable” and expressed concerns over the complexity of efforts to secure her release. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that Sala’s case is still under investigation, with Italy’s ambassador to Tehran, Paola Amadei, having visited her in Tehran’s Evin prison. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani emphasized that efforts to free the journalist are proving challenging.
Sala, known for her work with Chora Media, an Italian podcast publisher, had posted a link to a podcast discussing patriarchy in Tehran just days before her arrest. Iran’s culture ministry has confirmed that she is receiving consular assistance and has been in contact with her family by phone.
