The detention of Cecilia Sala, one of Italy’s most renowned journalists, in Tehran by Iran has reportedly sparked concerns that the Iranian authorities may be using her as a bargaining chip in their negotiations with the West—a practice that is becoming more prevalent among authoritarian regimes.
Sala, a well-known foreign correspondent and podcaster in Italy, was apprehended by police in Tehran on December 19, according to the Italian Foreign Ministry.
The ministry disclosed her detention on Friday, following a week of unsuccessful attempts to secure her immediate release.
According to her employers, Italian newspaper Il Foglio and podcasting company Chora Media, Iranian authorities are currently incarcerating her in solitary confinement at Tehran’s Evin Prison, which is renowned for its political detainees.
They have not yet disclosed any charges against her.
Iran is a pioneer in the use of arbitrary detention of foreign citizens as a bargaining tool to secure concessions from the United States and European countries.
This includes the release of Iranians detained on charges such as money laundering or terrorism in the West.
Western governments have encountered difficulty in adapting to the strategy of employing judicial proceedings to incarcerate foreign nationals employed by these countries.
The potential reason for Iran’s detention of Sala remains unclear. Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian national, was apprehended by Italian authorities on December 16 on behalf of the United States.
The United States has accused him of violating U.S. export restrictions on drone technology and providing material support to terrorists.
Sala was on the final leg of an eight-day reporting journey to Tehran that had been officially sanctioned by the Iranian government, as reported by Chora Media.
According to Mario Calabresi, the CEO of Chora, she adhered to Iran’s regulations for foreign correspondents by informing the authorities of the individuals she was interrogating.
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