Cecilia Sala, 29, was arrested on December 19, days after the United States and Italy arrested two Iranian nationals over export violations linked to a deadly attack on American servicemen

The detention of Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist, in Iran has raised a wave of concern both in Italy and internationally. Arrested while doing her job, Sala has become the symbol of a broader fight for press freedom and human rights.

Iran confirmed the arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala for "violating the laws of the Islamic Republic", Iran's official IRNA news agency reported on Monday. Sala, 29, who works for the newspaper Il Foglio and the podcast company Chora Media,

Prominent Italian journalist and podcaster Cecilia Sala has been arrested in Iran and incarcerated in Tehran's infamous Evin prison.

The arrest comes as regimes increasingly resort to seizing Westerners for leverage.

Italy summoned Iran’s ambassador on Thursday to demand the immediate release of an Italian journalist detained in Tehran, as the government and opposition ramped up public pressure on the politically sensitive case.

Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday that he had tasked the secretary general of the Italian foreign ministry to summon the Iranian ambassador to Rome and that the meeting is scheduled to take place at midday.