Iran confirmed on Monday that it had arrested Italian journalist Cecilia Sala for “violating the law,” according to state media, a move that has been condemned by Italy as “unacceptable.”
“Cecilia Sala, an Italian citizen, travelled to Iran on December 13, 2024 with a journalist’s visa and was arrested on December 19, 2024 for violating the law of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the official IRNA news agency reported, citing a statement from the culture ministry without providing further details.
“Her case is currently under investigation,” the ministry added. The ministry is responsible for overseeing and accrediting foreign journalists in Iran.
Sala’s last post on X was on December 17, where she shared a link to a podcast titled “A conversation on patriarchy in Tehran.” Chora Media, the Italian podcast publisher for which Sala worked, confirmed she had traveled from Rome to Iran on a journalist visa and was scheduled to return on December 20.
On Friday, Italy condemned Sala’s arrest as “unacceptable” and stated that she is being held in Tehran’s Evin prison. Italy’s ambassador to Tehran, Paola Amadei, has visited her.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated on Saturday that efforts to free Sala were “complicated.”
Iran’s culture ministry confirmed on Monday that Sala had been allowed consular assistance and that she “has been in contact with her family by phone.”
