Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has been detained in Iran since December 19 while attempting to return to Italy.

Sala, who was in the country on a valid visa, is now held in solitary confinement at Evin Prison.

The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, is actively working for her release through high-level diplomatic efforts.

Political leaders across Italy, including Elly Schlein and Matteo Renzi, have called for urgent action, while Amnesty International emphasized that journalism is not a crime.

Sala’s arrest highlights the severe repression of press freedom in Iran, ranked among the worst globally for journalists.