Cecilia Sala Details Her Detention in Iran on Her Podcast

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has shared an in-depth account of her unjustified 21-day detention in Iran through a new episode of her podcast, “Stories,” produced by Chora Media. In an interview with Mario Calabresi, director of Chora Media, Sala recounted the circumstances of her arrest, the conditions of her confinement, and her eventual release.

“I need to sleep, I need to rest: last night I didn’t sleep because of excitement and joy, the night before because of anguish,” Sala said.

The details she recounts are previously unpublished, having only partially appeared in Italian newspapers. Despite the evident and understandable emotional involvement, she addresses them excellently. Yesterday, upon landing at the Rome-Ciampino airport, Sala had already recounted her detention in a hearing with the ROS, the Carabinieri’s Special Operations Group, which also deals with anti-terrorism.

Sala was arrested on December 19 while working on a podcast episode in her Tehran hotel room. She initially thought the knock on her door was hotel staff. Before being transferred to Evin Prison, one of the world’s most inhumane and harsh detention facilities, she was taken to another location for questioning, during which she realized “this would not be a short matter.”

She speculated that her arrest might be linked to the detention in Italy of Iranian businessman Mohammed Abedini Najafabadi. However, she was never explained why she was placed in solitary confinement in Evin Prison.

In a brief recap, Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi is an Iranian businessman and engineer arrested at Milan’s Malpensa Airport on December 16 at the request of the United States. He is accused of illegally procuring American military technology, particularly drone components, allegedly used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. His arrest has played a crucial role in diplomatic negotiations, as Iran has been pressuring Italy to prevent his extradition to the US. The connection between his case and Sala’s detention remains a key aspect of the broader political context behind the dossier.

During her detention, Sala endured “severe conditions,” spending 24 hours a day in a silent cell without her glasses, which impaired her vision. Reflecting on the most challenging aspect of her confinement, she stated, “It’s your mind,” clearly referring to the mental toll suffered by detainees under extreme conditions.

She also hinted at this in her first tweet after being freed, where she wrote, “I have the most beautiful photograph of my life, my heart full of gratitude, in my mind those who, lifting their gaze, still cannot see the sky. In these 21 days, I never thought I would be home today.”

She faced daily interrogations during the initial two weeks and was never provided with an apparent reason for her arrest. In the later stages of her detention, Sala shared a cell with Farzaneh, an Iranian woman also held at Evin Prison. This companionship provided some relief from isolation. Sala recounted, “The hug with her was powerful before I left.” She later explained that the woman was in prison because she was “against the Islamic Republic”.

Sala recounted that she learned of her impending release only a few hours before being taken to the airport for her return to Italy. She recalled her skepticism at the time: “I didn’t believe it”. “I thought it was a trick,” noting that such staged situations are often part of the psychological pressure exerted on detainees. Sala said that despite not knowing where she was being taken during that transfer, she tried to think positively, ”enjoying” the trip as it was the freest moment she had experienced in 21 days. She also noted that, regardless of what would happen next, she was aware that these would be among the last images of Tehran she would see for a long time—believing she could never return to Iran.

Throughout her detention, Sala frequently thought of her partner, journalist Daniele Raineri, one of Italy’s most esteemed foreign correspondents. Il Post, the Italian news site where Raineri works, reports that she longed for reading material, which was denied until the penultimate day of her confinement when she received an English copy of Haruki Murakami’s novel “Umibe no Kafuka.” She expressed, “The thing I wanted most was a book—the story of another, something that would take me outside.”

Sala’s firsthand account offers a rare glimpse into the experiences of journalists detained in Iran, highlighting the psychological and physical challenges faced during such ordeals. Sala’s return to Italy does not entirely close the case, as it now intersects with Abedini’s hearing scheduled for January 15 and the subsequent decisions Italy must make regarding the US extradition request. The case of the Italian journalist abducted by the regime in Tehran serves as a further reminder that more broadly, Iran remains a problematic actor on the international stage.