Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been detained in Tehran, Italy’s foreign ministry confirmed in a statement released on Friday. Sala, a reporter for the Italian daily Il Foglio, was reporting in the Iranian capital when she was stopped by Tehran police on December 19. The foreign ministry has been in contact with Iranian authorities to clarify Sala's legal situation and verify the conditions of her detention.
Italian Ambassador Paola Amadei visited Sala in prison to assess her conditions and state of detention. Sala had been allowed to make two phone calls to her relatives. Sala, who was in Iran on a regular visa to report on the country, is being held in Tehran’s Evin prison.
Il Foglio's editor emphasized that journalism is not a crime and called for Sala's safe return home. The publication decided to report Sala's story after receiving assurances that it would not hinder diplomatic efforts to secure her release.
Chora Media, where Sala also works, revealed that she had traveled to Iran with a valid journalistic visa and had conducted interviews and produced content for the Stories podcast. Sala's detention was made public only after her parents and Italian authorities requested silence in hopes of a swift resolution.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated that the government is actively working to secure Sala's release. He highlighted that negotiations with Iran require high-level political and diplomatic actions rather than public outrage.
Sala's Instagram account features recent posts about women she met in Iran.
