Italian journalist Cecilia Sala remains detained in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison under harsh conditions, following her arrest on 16 December, 2024. Sala, a 29-year-old freelance correspondent for Il Foglio and podcaster for Chora News, was accused of breaching Islamic law.
Italian authorities are intensifying efforts to secure her release, amid concerns that she is being used as leverage for a potential prisoner exchange involving Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini.
Harsh Conditions in Evin Prison
Sala’s parents have painted a grim picture of her detention. She is reportedly being held in solitary confinement, isolated even from guards. Her cell is illuminated by a neon light 24 hours a day, depriving her of proper rest. Sala sleeps on the floor with only two blankets, one serving as a makeshift mattress and the other for warmth against the cold. Her glasses have been confiscated, leaving her unable to read or see properly. Food is delivered through a crack in the door, and she has had no access to care packages containing food, hygiene products, or books.
During a rare phone call with her family, Sala kept repeating, “We have to hurry.” Her mother, Elisabetta Vernoni, voiced concern about the psychological and physical toll of the conditions, stating, “The prison conditions for a 29-year-old girl who has done nothing must be those that cannot mark her for life.”
Vernoni also highlighted that Sala’s detention appears punitive, describing the cell as a “punishment cell” rather than standard confinement. She remarked, “If someone sleeps on the floor, it makes me think that in 2024, this is this [a punishment cell].”
Linked to International Politics
Sala’s arrest occurred three days after the detention of Abedini at Milan’s Malpensa Airport. Abedini faces charges in the United States for allegedly supplying drone parts used in an attack that killed three servicemen in Jordan.
Tehran has requested Abedini’s release, sparking speculation that Sala’s arrest was orchestrated to facilitate a prisoner exchange. Italian magistrates have so far refused to grant Abedini house arrest, citing his potential threat to [inter]national security.
Italian Government Efforts
The Italian authorities have launched a multifaceted campaign to secure Sala’s release. On 2 January, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni chaired a summit with key officials, followed by a meeting with Sala’s mother. “The Government confirms its commitment to the Iranian authorities for the immediate release of Cecilia Sala and, pending this, for treatment that respects human dignity,” stated Palazzo Chigi.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has directed the Italian Foreign Ministry to summon Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Reza Sabouri. During the meeting, Italian officials reiterated demands for Sala’s immediate release, dignified treatment, and consular access.
Sabouri claimed Sala was being treated well but reports from her parents and Italian media strongly contradict this assertion.
Rome is coordinating with the United States and other allies to address the situation. Talks between Italian and U.S. officials have focused on the implications of Abedini’s case and its connection to Sala’s detention. A document from U.S. judicial officials delivered to Milan’s appeals court described Abedini as a “dangerous individual.”
Meloni’s government has pledged unwavering support. Sala’s mother expressed cautious optimism after her meeting with Meloni, praising the government’s “qualitative leap” in addressing the issue. “The first concern now is absolutely the prison living conditions of my daughter,” Vernoni said. She added she respects the complexities of diplomacy but insists on her daughter’s humane treatment. “We respect the timeframes of diplomacy, but the conditions must not mark a girl who is only an Italian excellence.”
