‘Journalism Is Not A Crime!’ Italian Newspaper Issues Plea For Iran To Release Imprisoned Journalist Cecilia Sala
Elena Di Vincenzo/AP Images
Italian newspaper Il Foglio published a plea to Iranian authorities to release reporter Cecilia Sala, who was taken into custody more than a week ago, accusing the regime for taking the journalist “hostage” in order to “demonstrate” its strength.
The editorial was published on Friday as frustrated demands for her freedom grow from both journalists and government officials in what they see as a brazen assault on fundamental rights.
Sala, who was arrested in Tehran on December 19, has been held at the notorious Evin Prison, with her family and editors increasingly concerned about her welfare. Italy’s ambassador in Tehran has already visited Sala, checking on her conditions while the country’s foreign ministry works “with Iranian authorities to clarify” the charges against her.
Despite initial hopes of resolving the matter quietly, Claudio Cerasa, director of the newspaper that employs Sala, said he chose to share her ordeal with the backing of officials in the hope of bringing about more pressure on Tehran.
“Journalism is not a crime. Bring Cecilia Sala home,” Cerasa wrote.
The editorial goes on to criticize the Iranian government for violating the journalist’s legal right to be in the country: “Cecilia was in Iran, with a valid visa, to cover a country she knows and loves — a country where information is stifled through repression, threats, intimidation, violence, and detentions, often targeting journalists themselves.”
Continuing, Cerasa warns that this is not the time for “rhetoric” but lambasts Tehran for the “irresponsibility of portraying an Islamist regime as capable of moderation.”
“Iran wants to use Cecilia’s life to demonstrate the regime’s strength,” he adds. “Let us show them our strength by doing everything possible to keep her story on the pages of our newspapers, to remind the authorities how dangerous it is to hesitate in responding to an attack on press freedom, and to ensure she is brought home. Journalism is not a crime, even in countries that repress every freedom, including freedom of the press.”
The country’s Defense Minister has also blasted Sala’s detention as “unacceptable,” insisting that high-level political and diplomatic channels are in play to secure Sala’s release.
Iran’s government has long been accused of jailing local and foreign journalists on flimsy grounds.
