Cecilia Sala is one of the most renowned voices in contemporary Italian journalism—perhaps the most talented in her generation at this craft. She is only 29 years old, yet over the past five years, she has visited nearly every war zone as a reporter—from Ukraine to Palestine, from Syria to Iran. She possesses the courage of a warrior, and her reports, whether visual or written, bear the mark of an artist (not to mention her rare elegance, both in appearance and communication).

She hosts a daily podcast called "Stories", where, in just 10 minutes, she delves into an event that may have shaped the current global landscape—or even something that initially seems insignificant but, upon investigation, proves to be far from it. She has also published three books.

In short, Cecilia represents one of those rare cases where practicing journalism means embodying dedication, professionalism, skill, and culture.

For over a week now, she has been arrested and held in prison by authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran—a country she had traveled to in order to prepare a report on the condition of women there. The charges against her have not been disclosed, but it is suspected that Iranian authorities—despite Cecilia entering the country with a valid visa—are attempting to use her detention as leverage to exchange her for an Iranian scientist detained by Western intelligence agencies in Italy.

A really sad story!