Italian journalist and podcaster Cecilia Sala has been arrested in Iran and jailed in Tehran’s Evin prison for political prisoners, the Italian government announced on Friday.
“Italy is working tirelessly to free her, pursuing every option,” Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto wrote on X, describing Sala’s arrest as “unacceptable.”
Sala, who is 29 and works for Rome-based newspaper Il Foglio and Italian podcast company Chora Media, was arrested on Dec. 19, though her arrest was only revealed on Friday, as her family and Italian authorities had kept quiet hoping that could help negotiate her rapid release. The reason for her arrest has not yet been made public since it has not yet been confirmed by Iranian officials.
The young but already prominent Italian journalist had been conducting several interviews in Tehran after arriving there on Dec. 12 with a valid journalist visa. Sala was supposed to board her flight back to Italy on Dec. 20, but was instead arrested a day before her planned return.
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Sala had been producing episodes of her “Stories” podcast, including one about Iranian comedian Zeinab Mousavi, who is known by her stage name “Empress Kuzcooo.” Mousavi, who has spoken out in her comic videos against the compulsory hijab, is currently serving a prison sentence in Evin, reportedly charged with “sacrilege.”
According to Italian press reports Sala’s arrest might be linked to current tensions between Rome and Tehran after Iranian authorities last week summoned a top Italian diplomat who represents U.S. interests in the country over the arrest of two Iranian nationals, one of whom was arrested in Italy at Washington’s request.
Elly Schlein, leader of Italy’s center-left opposition Democratic Party, urged the government to act swiftly.
“We immediately call on the government to take every useful initiative to shed light on this matter, to clarify the reasons for this detention and, above all, to bring Cecilia Sala back to Italy as soon as possible,” she said in a statement.