Italian Journalist Has Been Detained For More Than A Week In Iran, The Legal Case Is Not Clear

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Italian journalists have been detained in Iran for more than a week. Cecilia Sala (29) works for the newspaper Il Foglio and podcast company Chora Media.

He was arrested by police in Tehran on December 19. Meanwhile, the Italian government coordinated with Iranian authorities to clarify Cecilia Sala's legal issues and verify her detention conditions.

Chora Media said in a separate statement Sala was being held in an isolation cell in an Evin prison in Tehran and there was no reason for his arrest.

There has been no direct confirmation of the arrest by Iranian officials.

Chora Media said Sala left Roma for Iran on December 12 on a valid journalist visa and had conducted a number of interviews and produced three episodes of her podcast "Stories".

He should have flown back to Rome on December 20.

As reported by Reuters, the Italian Ambassador to Iran visited Sala in prison on Friday, December 27, the ministry and Chora said. The journalist has also made telephone contact with his family.

Chora said the news of his arrest was not immediately published because Italian families and authorities hoped to keep it a secret could help ensure his release as soon as possible.

"His freedom of voice has been silenced, and neither Italy nor Europe can tolerate this arbitrary arrest. Cecilia Sala must be released immediately," Chora said.