DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tehran confirmed Monday that an Italian journalist has been arrested on fees of violating the legal guidelines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, state media reported.
The nation’s Ministry of Tradition and Islamic Steerage, which oversees media exercise, stated in an announcement that Cecilia Sala traveled to Iran on Dec. 13 on a journalist visa and was arrested six days later, in accordance with the state-run IRNA information company.
The assertion stated Sala’s case is underneath investigation, including that the Italian embassy in Tehran was knowledgeable after her arrest. The ministry stated Sala’s arrest was carried out underneath related rules and he or she was granted consular entry. She has contacted her household by cellphone.
On Friday, Italy’s overseas ministry stated the Iranian police detained Sala within the Iranian capital on Dec. 19, whereas she was working with Iranian authorities “to make clear the authorized state of affairs of Sala and to confirm the situations of her detention.”
Sala is a reporter for the Italian every day Il Foglio, which stated she is being held in Tehran’s Evin jail. Il Foglio stated Sala was in Iran on an everyday visa “to report on a rustic she is aware of and loves.”
For the reason that 1979 U.S. Embassy disaster, which noticed dozens of hostages launched after 444 days in captivity, Iran has used prisoners with Western ties as bargaining chips in negotiations.
Italian media stated Sala’s detention was believed to be aimed toward securing the discharge of Mohammad Abedini-Najafabad, an Iranian-Swiss professional in drones who was detained in Italy on Dec. 16 on a U.S. warrant to be extradited to america. With out attribution, Italian every day Corriere della Sera stated Iran’s vice overseas minister had implied such a swap to the Italian ambassador to Iran, Paola Amadei.
Italian International Minister Antonio Tajani referred to the arrest of Abedini in an look with Italian broadcaster Rete4 about Sala’s case.
“An Iranian-Swiss citizen was arrested in Italy, not as a result of he dedicated crimes in Italy however as a result of there was a world arrest warrant from america for this individual,” Tajani stated. “Now the Italian courts are evaluating if extradition is feasible or not.”
Tajani famous that the state of affairs was delicate however stated he he hoped to carry Sala residence as quickly as attainable.
In September 2023 5 People detained for years in Iran had been freed in alternate for 5 Iranians in U.S. custody and for $6 billion in frozen Iranian property to be launched by South Korea.
Roxana Saberi, an American journalist, was detained by Iran in 2009 for some 100 days earlier than being launched. Additionally detained by Iran was Washington Publish journalist Jason Rezaian, who was held for over 540 days earlier than being launched in 2016 in a prisoner swap between Iran and the U.S.
Each instances concerned Iran making false espionage accusations in closed-door hearings.
