Cecilia Sala arrested in Iran, Il Foglio calls for the journalist’s release

Elena Di Vincenzo/AP Images

Italian newspaper Il Foglio published an appeal to the Iranian authorities to release the reporter Cecilia Salawho was taken into custody more than a week ago, accused the regime of taking the journalist “hostage” to “demonstrate” its strength.

The editorial was published on Friday as frustrated calls for her freedom grew louder from both journalists and government officials in what they say represents a brazen attack on fundamental rights.

Sala, who was arrested in Tehran on December 19, is being held in the notorious Evin prison as her family and editors grow increasingly concerned about her well-being. The Italian ambassador in Tehran has already visited Sala and learned about her conditions, while the country’s Foreign Ministry is “working with the Iranian authorities to resolve the allegations against her.”

Despite initial hopes of resolving the matter quietly, Claudio CerasaDirector of the newspaper where Sala is employed said he decided to share her ordeal with the support of officials in the hope of putting more pressure on Tehran.

“Journalism is not a crime. Bring Cecilia Sala home,” Cerasa wrote.

The editorial goes on to criticize the Iranian government for violating the journalist’s legal right to stay in the country: “Cecilia was in Iran on a valid visa to report on a country she knows and loves – a country where information is suppressed through repression become. Threats, intimidation, violence and detention, often against journalists themselves.”

Cerasa further warns that this is not the time for “rhetoric,” but criticizes Tehran for the “irresponsibility of portraying an Islamist regime as capable of moderation.”

“Iran wants to use Cecilia’s life to demonstrate the regime’s strength,” he added. “Let us show them our strength by doing everything we can to keep their story on the pages of our newspapers, remind the authorities of the danger of hesitating to respond to an attack on press freedom, and ensure that she be brought home.” Journalism is not a crime, even in countries that suppress all freedom, including freedom of the press.”

The country’s defense minister also described Sala’s detention as “unacceptable” and stressed that high-level political and diplomatic channels were in play to secure Sala’s release.

The Iranian government has long been accused of detaining local and foreign journalists on flimsy grounds.