Italian Travel Blogger Recalls Her Own Detention in Tehran Prison, Voices Concern for Imprisoned Journalist Cecilia Sala
In a striking reminder of the challenges facing Westerners in Iran, Italian travel blogger Alessia Piperno has shared her experience of being detained in the infamous Evin Prison in Tehran. Her account comes as Italian journalist Cecilia Sala remains imprisoned in the same facility, four months after her arrest.
Piperno’s ordeal began on September 18, 2022, in the midst of tense protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman who died in police custody. "I was arrested on the streets of Tehran," she recalls, "I spent 45 days in Evin." Her story bears eerie similarities to that of Sala, who was arrested on December 19, 2023, and has been held in solitary confinement since then.
"Being a prisoner in Evin is a terrifying experience," Piperno says. "The psychological torture is relentless. They lie to you, manipulate you, and try to break you." Unlike Sala, Piperno was not a journalist but was targeted as a foreigner amidst the political upheaval. She was assured she would be released after questioning but was held for weeks, enduring multiple grueling interrogations.
P Piperno revealed that she was blindfolded during her visits by the then-Italian ambassador, Giuseppe Perrone, highlighting the harsh treatment of detainees. The lack of information about her detainment was también a harrowing aspect of her ordeal. "I didn’t know what to expect. It was a nightmare," she says.
Now, Piperno fears for Sala’s fate. "She’s a journalist, which could make her situation even more precarious," she says. "I want to tell her family that I’m thinking of them. I hope she’s strong, and I hope she’ll be released soon."
Piperno’s account serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of detainment in Iran and the ongoing plight of Cecilia Sala. As the international community calls for Sala’s release, Piperno’s story adds a chilling layer to the ongoing debate.
