The Iranian government state media on Monday confirmed that it had arrested an Italian journalist Cecilia Sala for allegedly violating Islamic law.
The arrest was swiftly condemned by Italy as “unacceptable,” AP reports.
However, no further details about the violation were provided. The ministry added that the case is under investigation. It also oversees the accreditation of foreign journalists in Iran.
Sala, an Italian citizen, entered Iran on December 13, 2024, with a journalist visa, and was detained on December 19, 2024, for breaching the laws of the Islamic Republic, the official IRNA news agency reported, citing a statement from the Iranian Ministry of Culture.
Sala, who is reportedly 29 years old, last posted on X (formerly Twitter) on December 17, sharing a link to a podcast titled “A Conversation on Patriarchy in Tehran.”
Sala had previously reported from Ukraine on the war involving Iran’s ally, Russia.
Chora Media, an Italian podcast publisher for which Sala works, confirmed that she had traveled to Iran on a journalist visa and was scheduled to return on December 20.
On Friday, Italy condemned her arrest as “unacceptable” and confirmed that she was being held at Tehran’s Evin prison.
Italy’s ambassador to Tehran, Paola Amadei, has visited Sala. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated on Saturday that efforts to secure her release were “complicated.”
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