Italian journalist arrested in Iran and held in notorious Evin prison

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An Italian journalist was detained in Iran in what marks the first arrest of a foreign member of the press since anti-regime protests triggered a brutal crackdown amid heightened tensions across the region.

The Italian foreign ministry said on Friday that Cecilia Sala, who works for the daily publication Il Foglio, was detained on December 19 and authorities were trying to establish the details of her arrest. Her employer separately said it had decided to make her detention public because it had received reassurances from Italian authorities that this “would not hinder efforts to bring her home”.

Three days before Sala’s arrest, Italy detained an Iranian national who was accused by the US of supplying drone technology to Tehran. Another Iranian national was arrested on the same grounds in Switzerland.

“Italy is working tirelessly to free her, pursuing every option,” Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto wrote on X, calling Sala’s arrest “unacceptable”.

Italy’s ambassador in Tehran has visited Sala in jail to verify her health and detention conditions, the foreign ministry said, adding that the journalist had been allowed to call her family twice since her arrest.

The foreign ministry said it had agreed with Sala’s parents it would not comment further on her case in order “to facilitate a positive outcome”.

Iran has not confirmed the arrest.

The Islamic republic is grappling with mounting pressures after the unexpected collapse of the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, which was a crucial regional ally. Tehran has imposed lockdowns, citing an energy crisis and pollution.

Sala, 29, arrived in Iran on December 12 and was due to return to Italy on December 20. She has reported from war zones including Ukraine and Lebanon and also anchors a popular foreign affairs podcast on the digital platform Chora Media.

Just before her arrest Sala had released an episode from Iran featuring Zeinab Musavi, a local standup comedian who had been arrested then freed earlier this year after publicly criticising the regime.

Chora Media said Sala was being held in isolation in the infamous Evin prison, where the Islamic republic jails its political opponents and that no reason for her arrest had been given.

Claudio Cerasa, Il Foglio’s editor-in-chief, said Sala “was in Iran with a valid visa to cover a country she knows and loves”.

“Journalism isn’t a crime, not even in countries that repress every kind of freedom, including that of the press,” Cerasa wrote on Il Foglio’s website. “Let’s bring her home.”