Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
One of Italy’s most prominent foreign correspondents, Cecilia Sala, has been arrested and held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison since 19 December. News of her arrest was only made public a week later.
She has been held under no official charges until recently, when Iran confirmed arresting her for “violating the laws of the Islamic Republic”.
Iran’s ambassador in Italy has publicly linked Sala’s detention conditions to those of Mohammed Abedini Najafabadi – an Iranian national arrested in Milan just before Sala, accused of trafficking drone parts to Iran’s military.
He faces extradition to the US. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and intelligence officials working on the case requested the journalist’s release and fair detention conditions.
Sala has been confined to an isolated cell and has to sleep on the floor under constant lighting.
