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Iran confirms apprehension of Italian journo for ‘violating law’
“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 said, citing a statement by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.
“Her case is currently under investigation,” added the ministry, which oversees and accredits foreign journalists in Iran.
Chora Media, an Italian podcast publisher for which Sala worked, said she had travelled from Rome to Iran on a journalist visa, and was due to return on December 20.
On Friday, Italy denounced Sala’s arrest as “unacceptable” and said she has been held in Tehran’s Evin prison. Italy’s ambassador to Tehran, Paola Amadei, has visited her.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday that efforts to free Sala were “complicated.”
The Iranian ministry confirmed Monday that Sala had been allowed consular assistance and “has been in contact with her family by phone.”