ITALY HAS DENOUNCED the “unacceptable” arrest of an Italian journalist in Iran, who her employer said was being held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.

Cecilia Sala was detained on 19 December by police in Tehran, the Italian foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that Italy’s ambassador, Paola Amadei, had visited her earlier today.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani later told RAI News the diplomat had spent around 30 minutes with Sala and the journalist was in “good health” and being held alone in a cell.

Defence Minister Giudo Crosetto said on X that her arrest was “unacceptable”, adding that Italy was using “high-level political and diplomatic action” to try to secure her release.

Chora Media, an Italian podcast publisher for which Sala worked, said she had travelled from Rome to Iran on 12 December on a journalist visa, and was due to return on 20 December.

But she went quiet on 19 December and then did not board her flight. Shortly afterwards she called her mother to say she had been arrested, it said.

The notorious Evin jail in the North eastern suburbs of Tehran, Iran. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

“She was taken to Evin prison, where dissidents are held, and the reason for her arrest has not yet been formalised,” Chora said in a statement.

Sala also worked for Italian newspaper Il Foglio, which said she had been in Iran “to report on a country she knows and loves”.

“Journalism is not a crime, even in countries that repress all freedoms, including those of the press. Bring her home,” it said.

Sala, reported to be 29 years old, last posted on X on 17 December, with a link to a podcast entitled “A conversation on patriarchy in Tehran”.

Chora said it had not publicised her case until now in the hope that she would swiftly be returned home. It called for her immediate release.

Sala had previously reported from Ukraine.

- © AFP 2024