The Italian government raises its voice against Iran on the case of the Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, locked up in Evin prison, in Iran, since last December 19. In a statement from the Farnesina we read that, «on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, the Secretary General, Amb. Riccardo Guariglia, today summoned the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Rome, Mohammad Reza Sabouri, to the Farnesina”. During the meeting “the release was first and foremost requested” of Cecilia Sala, “who arrived in Iran with a regular journalist visa”. Through Ambassador Gariglia, Italy «reiterated the request to ensure dignified detention conditions, respecting human rights, to guarantee full consular assistance to the compatriot, allowing the Italian Embassy in Tehran to visit her and provide her with the necessary supplies. of comfort that have so far been denied to her.”
The Italian government’s initiative comes after the latest dramatic news from Evin prison (where dissidents of the Iranian regime are locked up). On January 1st Cecilia Sala was able to make three short phone calls: to her mother, her father and her partner, the journalist Daniele Raineri. What the journalist told her family sensationally contradicts what was declared in recent days by the Iranian authorities. Cecilia Sala is in isolation, she sleeps on the floor using a blanket as a mattress, her glasses have been confiscated, she has not received the package brought by the Italian embassy containing basic necessities. At the moment the accusation against Cecilia Sala is very generic: «Violation of the laws of the Islamic Republic». The journalist’s story appears to be intertwined with the detention of the Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini-Najafabad, a drone expert, arrested on 16 December at Malpensa airport at the request of the United States.
A document sent by the American justice system is being brought to the attention of the judges of the Court of Appeal of Milan in which it is stated that Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi is a dangerous individual and that he must be detained in prison. The four-page document was sent via diplomatic channels a few days after the arrest of the 38-year-old Iranian, therefore before the request with which the defender, the lawyer Alfredo de Francesco, requests house arrest. The note from the Massachusetts Department of Justice will now be brought to the attention of the Attorney General of Milan who will have to provide a non-binding opinion on the request for mitigation of the precautionary measure.
Iran is no stranger to the arbitrary detention of foreign citizens, used as a bargaining chip to obtain concessions, including the release of Iranians detained in Western countries. The case of Cecilia Sala will be at the center of a summit to be held this afternoon at Palazzo Chigi between the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, the Minister of Justice, Carlo Nordio, the Undersecretary of the Presidency, Alfredo Mantovano and the Intelligence Services. The involvement of the opposition cannot also be ruled out.
