Cecilia Sala: the case that inflames relations between Italy and Iran. Cecilia's parents ask for a press blackout.
The Italian journalist detained in Tehran becomes the focus of an international tug-of-war. The parents' appeal for a press blackout and the connection with the Abedini case complicate the geopolitical situation.
Cecilia Sala: the case that inflames relations between Italy and Iran. Cecilia's parents ask for a press blackout.
The case of Cecilia Sala, the Italian journalist detained in Tehran since 19 December 2023, represents a critical point in relations between Italy and Iran. In the background, human, judicial and geopolitical complexities intertwine, in an increasingly tense confrontation that also involves the United States. The Italian government is engaged on several fronts to guarantee the reporter's release, while Iran is imposing conditions that further complicate the situation.
An appeal for a press blackout
At a time of maximum tension, Cecilia Sala's family has launched an appeal for a press blackout, underlining the importance of discretion to facilitate a rapid solution.
Here is the full text of the appeal released by parents:
“The situation of our daughter, Cecilia Sala, locked in a Tehran prison for 16 days, is complicated and very worrying. To try to bring her home, our government has mobilized to the maximum and now, in addition to the efforts of the Italian authorities, confidentiality and discretion are necessary. In these days we have felt the affection, attention and solidarity of Italians and of the world of information and we are very grateful for everything that is being done. The phase we have reached is, however, very delicate and the feeling is that the great media debate on what can or should be done risks prolonging the times and making a solution more complicated and distant. For this reason, we have decided to abstain from comments and statements and we appeal to the media asking for a press blackout. We will be grateful for the sense of responsibility that everyone will want to show by accepting our request”.
The connection with the Abedini case
Tehran has clearly linked Cecilia Sala’s fate to that of Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, an Iranian mechanical engineer arrested at Malpensa airport on December 16 at the request of the United States. Abedini is accused of conspiracy and material support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Held in Opera prison, he declared through his lawyer: “I will pray for myself and for Cecilia Sala.”

Iran summoned Italian Ambassador Paola Amadei to express its displeasure, calling Abedini's arrest "illegal" and in line with an alleged US "hostage policy." Tehran warned that failure to release Abedini could seriously jeopardize bilateral relations with Italy.
Cecilia Sala's Conditions
Cecilia Sala is being held in Evin prison, which is known for its harsh conditions. In a phone call to her family, the journalist said she sleeps on two blankets in a cell that is lit 24 hours a day, without glasses or an eye mask, which has severely affected her well-being. The Italian government has asked for guarantees on her conditions of detention, the right to consular access, and the ability to deliver packages sent by the embassy.
The Italian government's moves
An extraordinary summit was held at Palazzo Chigi, chaired by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with the participation of Ministers Antonio Tajani (Foreign Affairs) and Carlo Nordio (Justice), as well as Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano. The priority is the immediate release of Cecilia Sala, but also to ensure that her detention conditions respect fundamental human rights.
Mantovano will report on Monday to Copasir, the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic, responding to the opposition's requests. Both the majority and the opposition have maintained a low profile, respecting the Sala family's appeal for silence.
The role of the United States
The story is intertwined with international politics: the United States has reiterated its request for the immediate release of all Western citizens detained in Iran. Washington is following the Abedini case closely, underlining its strategic value for relations between Italy and the United States.
Italian sources, meanwhile, have stressed that Abedini's conditions in Opera prison comply with Italian law and international conventions, in stark contrast to Cecilia Sala's situation in Tehran.
A high-voltage arm wrestling match
The hearing for Abedini's request for house arrest is set for January 15. The Attorney General's Office of Milano opposed the measure, also supported by the American justice system, which is pushing for her extradition. The decision will inevitably have a significant impact on the case of Cecilia Sala and on relations between Italy and Iran.
A fragile balance
The Cecilia Sala case is emblematic of the challenges posed by modern geopolitics, where humanitarian issues intertwine with international power games. As the Italian government continues to work for the reporter’s release, the world watches with apprehension, aware that any move could have profound and lasting consequences.

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