alessia piperno travel blogger instagram

An Italian Instagram travel influencer was arrested at her 30th birthday party in Iran amid the antigovernment demonstrations

• The Instagram travel influencer Alessa Piperno was arrested in Iran amid the mass demonstrations.
• Piperno had recently posted to her followers saying people were protesting in Iran for freedom.
• The demonstrations began after the 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody.

An Italian travel and food blogger was arrested in Iran's capital amid the massive wave of antigovernment demonstrations and police crackdown on protesters in the country, according to a Daily Beast report.  

Alessia Piperno was hanging out with friends to celebrate her 30th birthday when authorities came and arrested them, according to The Daily Beast, citing a now-deleted Facebook post from her father, Alberto Piperno, who said he got a call from her as she was crying in prison. The Daily Beast reportedly confirmed Alessia's arrest with the Italian foreign ministry, although they were unable to confirm why police detained her.

Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

In a recent post with the location tagged "Iran," Piperno wrote about the country's demonstrations following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by Iran's "morality" police for allegedly breaking the mandatory hijab regulations and died in police custody. Piperno wrote that these people are protesting for freedom, and said that if the country will be free one day, it will be because of the women protesting by burning their hijabs and the men supporting them.

A post shared by Aʟᴇssɪᴀ-ᴠɪᴀɢɢɪᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴇ ꜱᴏʟɪᴛᴀʀɪᴀ (@travel.adventure.freedom)

Piperno posted on Instagram that Iranian people were fed up with being controlled and were taking to the streets to protest.

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It's unclear if Piperno was arrested for taking part in the demonstrations. The antigovernment protests have led to a widespread police crackdown, including arrests of journalists, a musician who made a viral protest anthem, and a football player and a poet who both showed support for the protests, according to The Guardian . 

Piperno had been in Iran for two and a half months, according to Radio Free Europe. Giorgia Meloni, the far-right politician set to become Italy's next prime minister, issued a statement that she was following Piperno's case with concern.

The Iranian government has disrupted the country's internet service , making it more difficult for people to communicate and gain attention on the internet, which has overflowed with viral media and messages showing support for Iranian women and the demonstrations.

An Iranian human rights group published a statement Sunday saying 133 people have died so far in the country-wide protests.

Piperno's earliest Instagram posts date back to 2016. Her account is full of snapshots from her travels along with pictures of herself and friends. The 30-year-old's last Instagram message before the arrest, posted Wednesday, said she was about to begin her seventh year traveling on the road. 

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An Italian Instagram travel influencer was arrested at her 30th birthday party in Iran amid the antigovernment demonstrations

Kieran press-reynolds   .

• The Instagram travel influencer Alessa Piperno was arrested in Iran amid the mass demonstrations.
• Piperno had recently posted to her followers saying people were protesting in Iran for freedom.

An Italian travel and food blogger was arrested in Iran's capital amid the massive wave of antigovernment demonstrations and police crackdown on protesters in the country, according to a Daily Beast report.

Alessia Piperno was hanging out with friends to celebrate her 30th birthday when authorities came and arrested them, according to The Daily Beast, citing a now-deleted Facebook post from her father, Alberto Piperno, who said he got a call from her as she was crying in prison. The Daily Beast reportedly confirmed Alessia's arrest with the Italian foreign ministry, although they were unable to confirm why police detained her.

Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

In a recent post with the location tagged "Iran," Piperno wrote about the country's demonstrations following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by Iran's "morality" police for allegedly breaking the mandatory hijab regulations and died in police custody. Piperno wrote that these people are protesting for freedom, and said that if the country will be free one day, it will be because of the women protesting by burning their hijabs and the men supporting them.

A post shared by Aʟᴇssɪᴀ-ᴠɪᴀɢɢɪᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴇ ꜱᴏʟɪᴛᴀʀɪᴀ (@travel.adventure.freedom)

Piperno posted on Instagram that Iranian people were fed up with being controlled and were taking to the streets to protest.

It's unclear if Piperno was arrested for taking part in the demonstrations. The antigovernment protests have led to a widespread police crackdown, including arrests of journalists, a musician who made a viral protest anthem, and a football player and a poet who both showed support for the protests, according to The Guardian .

Piperno had been in Iran for two and a half months, according to Radio Free Europe. Giorgia Meloni, the far-right politician set to become Italy's next prime minister, issued a statement that she was following Piperno's case with concern.

The Iranian government has disrupted the country's internet service , making it more difficult for people to communicate and gain attention on the internet, which has overflowed with viral media and messages showing support for Iranian women and the demonstrations.

An Iranian human rights group published a statement Sunday saying 133 people have died so far in the country-wide protests.

Piperno's earliest Instagram posts date back to 2016. Her account is full of snapshots from her travels along with pictures of herself and friends. The 30-year-old's last Instagram message before the arrest, posted Wednesday, said she was about to begin her seventh year traveling on the road.

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Chi è Alessia Piperno, la travel blogger romana arrestata in Iran

Un «diario di viaggio» pieno di colori, stupore ed entusiasmo. I post sul profilo Instagram di Alessia Piperno, romana, arrestata a Teheran, in Iran , senza sapere perché, si interrompono quattro giorni fa, con le foto della festa del suo trentesimo compleanno. 

Alessia, lavoratrice da remoto e «viaggiatrice solitaria» (come lei stessa si definisce) da 7 anni, pubblicando l’immagine della torta e degli amici stretti attorno a lei, aveva tirato le somme della sua vita in viaggio. 

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«Quando mi guardo indietro, mi sembra ieri quando caricai il mio primo zaino sulle spalle, per raggiungere la terra dei miei sogni, l’Australia. Al tempo avevo appena compiuto 24 anni, mentre oggi ne compio 30. Mi ero ripromessa che a 30 anni mi sarei fermata , ed ora eccomi arrivata a questo giorno e mi chiedo: “Sono pronta a fermarmi?”. No, affatto. Questi anni sono stati i più belli della mia vita, i più vissuti, dove ho imparato e disimparato così tanto, dove ho incontrato popoli e amici meravigliosi, e dove ho scoperto la vera bellezza del nostro pianeta. Il mondo e la sua gente mi ha regalato più di quanto potessi desiderare, giorno dopo giorno, anno dopo anno».

Alessia Piperno è molto ben consapevole della difficile situazione in Iran. Solo una settimana fa, citando «Bella ciao», aveva riflettuto: «Per noi viaggiatori, turisti, vacanzieri in terre straniere, è facile giudicare, dire la nostra, restare finché è tutto bello, per poi salire su aereo e andarcene. Eppure per quanto questa possa essere la decisione più saggia da prendere, io non ci riesco. Non riesco ad andarmene da qui, ora più che mai. E non lo faccio per sfidare la sorte, ma perché anche io ora, sono parte di tutto questo». Dopo due mesi e mezzo in Iran, quella terra «mi è entrata dritta, dentro e profonda nel cuore». E ancora: «Qui invece, la gente è stufa di essere un burattino, ecco perché migliaia di persone stanno scendendo nelle piazze a protestare. Stanno manifestando per la loro libertà». 

Quanto a Mahsa Amini, la ragazza ventiduenne uccisa dalla polizia iraniana, perché non indossava correttamente l’hijab, Alessia aveva scritto: « La verità è che quella ragazza sarei potuta essere io , o la mia amica Hanieh, o una di quelle donne che ho incontrato durante questo viaggio. Hijab in Iran non è sinonimo di religione, bensì è sinonimo di governo. Ogni donna deve privarsi della sua femminilità, nascondere quei bei lineamenti del volto e le forme del proprio corpo, per non rischiare di finire in prigione, o peggio ancora, di essere frustata per 70 volte. Sono cresciuta credendo che queste cose accadevano in una terra lontana dalla mia, e che non mi avrebbero mai toccata. Ma ora che sono qui da più di due mesi, mi sento parte di tutto ciò , mi sento parte di queste ragazze che lottano per i loro diritti, che manifestano per la loro libertà, ma che alla fine sono costrette a nascondersi in un punto cieco».

Alessia progettava di tornare, un giorno, in Pakistan, dove «più di 365.000 persone hanno perso la loro casa. Non sono un muratore, non ho idea di come ricostruire una casa, ma anche i miei sogni un tempo mi sembravano impossibili. Quando il mondo ti da tanto, arriva il momento di dare tu qualcosa al mondo. “Esprimi un desiderio”. Mi ha urlato Haniieeh mentre soffiavo le candeline. Questa volta non ci ho dovuto pensare, ho un sogno pronto nella testa e nel cuore. Ricostruire un villaggio in Pakistan. E sapete qual è la cosa più assurda? Che so già che…ci riuscirò».

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Alessia Piperno: Italian travel blogger freed from Iran prison

Italian premier gave the good news personally to rome woman's parents..

"After intense diplomatic work today Alessia Piperno was released by the Iranian authorities and is preparing to return to Italy", read the statement from Palazzo Chigi.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni informed the woman's parents of the news by telephone personally, according to Palazzo Chigi.

Dopo un intenso lavoro diplomatico, oggi la nostra connazionale Alessia Piperno è stata rilasciata dalle autorità iraniane e si appresta a tornare in Italia. Voglio ringraziare tutti coloro che hanno contribuito a riportare Alessia dai suoi familiari. pic.twitter.com/2YTxNJh4Qe — Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) November 10, 2022

Piperno, a travel blogger and digital nomad, was detained at the notorious Evin prison in Tehran during the crackdown by Iranian authorities on the wave of protests following the death in custody of 22-year-old Kurdish woman  Mahsa Amini after she was held by 'morality police' for allegedly violating the Islamic republic's dress code.

Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomed the "wonderful news", writing on Twitter: "We can't wait for her to come home to Rome and see her safe in the arms of her loved ones."

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Italian Food Blogger Now Jailed as Iran’s Cops Go Crackdown Crazy

Travel blog veteran Alessia Piperno was celebrating her 30th birthday in Tehran when the police came for her and her friends.

Barbie Latza Nadeau

ROME—There is a deafening silence inside the independent bookshop owned by Alberto and Miriam Piperno in south central Rome, and it is not to allow shoppers to browse. The couple’s 30-year-old daughter Alessia, a noted travel and food blogger and digital nomad who has spent the last seven years exploring the world, is in a prison in Tehran and her parents have been told by Italy’s Foreign Ministry to avoid reporters.

Before they were silenced, Alberto posted a plea for help on Facebook with a recent photo his daughter posted from Tehran , where she had been for nearly three months. “This girl is Alessia Piperno, and she is my daughter,” he wrote Sunday on the now-deleted Facebook post. “Got a call this morning. It was her crying letting us know that she was in prison... She was arrested by police along with her friends while she celebrated her birthday. There were few words but they were desperate. She was asking for help.”

A number of foreigners have been arrested in the clampdown on protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, who died on Sept. 13 while in the custody of Iran’s infamous morality police. Prior to her arrest, Piperno posted about the protests, evoking the struggle of Italian Partisans’ protest song Bella Ciao , against the Fascist regime at the end of World War II. “22-year-old girl killed by Iranian police for not wearing hijab correctly,” she wrote in mid-September. “The truth is that that girl could have been me, or my friend Hanieh, or one of those women I met on this trip. Hijab in Iran is not synonymous with religion, it is synonymous with government.” She went on to write, “Every woman must deprive herself of her femininity, hide those beautiful facial features and the shapes of her body, in order not to risk ending up in prison, or worse still, being whipped 70 times.”

She wrote that having been in Iran, “I feel part of it all, I feel part of these girls who fight for their rights, who demonstrate for their freedom, but who are ultimately forced to hide in a blind spot.”

Alberto Piperno wrote that his daughter told him they were not told why they were arrested, but that nine others were taken into custody with her. “I’m fine, but here there are people who say they’ve been inside for months and for no reason,” she told her father, according to his post. “I’m afraid I won’t get out, help me.”

The blogger’s last Instagram post showed her birthday party in what looked like a private home in Tehran. The five women pictured do not have their heads covered. Piperno wrote, “These years have been the most beautiful of my life, the most lived, where I learned and unlearned so much, where I met wonderful people and friends, and where I discovered the true beauty of our planet. The world and its people have given me more than I could wish for, day after day, year after year.”

Hours later she was in prison.

Piperno has spent the last seven years traveling the world, according to her various blogs. She began traveling full time in 2016 by backpacking through Australia and since then has traveled through much of the Middle East, Africa and Asia. She posted that she had trouble securing a visa to stay in Iran, but did not elaborate whether she was there illegally in a post after she first arrived. She wrote that she was planning to return to Pakistan, where she was before traveling to Iran. Her intent was to help rebuild after the devastating floods.

She was part of a group known as digital nomads, who support their travels through sponsorships and remote working. She had more than 42,000 followers on Instagram, which was her primary outlet, where she often posted from markets and bazaars to describe the food and culture to her followers.

Her earlier posts showed her in various markets and mosques in Iran. Many of her videos showed her cultural awareness, as in how to wrap her hair in accordance with the laws. She did not post any images of the protests, but she did write about them. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that first night,” she posted a few days after the protests began. “We had run to the hostel with our hearts in our throats, as the sounds of gunfire boomed behind us and the smell of gas wafted into the air… The chaos, which before that day, I didn’t know what it really was. I closed the door of the hostel as people screamed in the streets.”

Italy’s foreign ministry confirmed her arrest to The Daily Beast, but did not elaborate on what action was being taken to secure her freedom. Many of her posts have been marked with stern criticism in the comments about why she was in Iran in the first place, with a number of people posting that she deserved it. “We Europeans do not know anything about these people, the news that reaches us is retouched, and we have been too well used to marching like puppets, believing everything we are told,” she wrote a week ago. “Here, however, people are tired of being a puppet, which is why thousands of people are taking to the streets to protest. They are demonstrating for their freedom. Women, men, adolescents and the elderly. And every one of them, every single person, risks his own life when he goes on the streets.”

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast  here .

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Italian Food Blogger Now Jailed as Iran’s Cops Go Crackdown Crazy

ROME—There is a deafening silence inside the independent bookshop owned by Alberto and Miriam Piperno in south central Rome, and it is not to allow shoppers to browse. The couple’s 30-year-old daughter Alessia, a noted travel and food blogger and digital nomad who has spent the last seven years exploring the world, is in a prison in Tehran and her parents have been told by Italy’s Foreign Ministry to avoid reporters.

Before they were silenced, Alberto posted a plea for help on Facebook with a recent photo his daughter posted from Tehran , where she had been for nearly three months. “This girl is Alessia Piperno, and she is my daughter,” he wrote Sunday on the now-deleted Facebook post. “Got a call this morning. It was her crying letting us know that she was in prison... She was arrested by police along with her friends while she celebrated her birthday. There were few words but they were desperate. She was asking for help.”

A number of foreigners have been arrested in the clampdown on protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, who died September 13 while in the custody of Iran’s infamous morality police. Prior to her arrest, Piperno posted about the protests, evoking the struggle of Italian Partisans’ protest song Bella Ciao , against the Fascist regime at the end of World War II. “22-year-old girl killed by Iranian police for not wearing hijab correctly,” she wrote in mid September. “The truth is that that girl could have been me, or my friend Hanieh, or one of those women I met on this trip. Hijab in Iran is not synonymous with religion, it is synonymous with government.” She went on to write, “Every woman must deprive herself of her femininity, hide those beautiful facial features and the shapes of her body, in order not to risk ending up in prison, or worse still, being whipped 70 times.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aʟᴇssɪᴀ-ᴠɪᴀɢɢɪᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴇ ꜱᴏʟɪᴛᴀʀɪᴀ (@travel.adventure.freedom)

She wrote that having been in Iran, “I feel part of it all, I feel part of these girls who fight for their rights, who demonstrate for their freedom, but who are ultimately forced to hide in a blind spot.”

Alberto Piperno wrote that his daughter told him they were not told why they were arrested, but that nine others were taken into custody with her. “I’m fine, but here there are people who say they’ve been inside for months and for no reason,” she told her father, according to his post. “I’m afraid I won’t get out, help me.”

The blogger’s last Instagram post showed her birthday party in what looked like a private home in Tehran. The five women pictured do not have their heads covered. Piperno wrote, “These years have been the most beautiful of my life, the most lived, where I learned and unlearned so much, where I met wonderful people and friends, and where I discovered the true beauty of our planet. The world and its people have given me more than I could wish for, day after day, year after year.”

Hours later she was in prison.

Piperno has spent the last seven years traveling the world, according to her various blogs. She began traveling full time in 2016 by backpacking through Australia and since then has traveled through much of the Middle East, Africa and Asia. She posted that she had trouble securing a visa to stay in Iran, but did not elaborate whether she was there illegally in a post after she first arrived. She wrote that she was planning to return to Pakistan, where she was before traveling to Iran. Her intent was to help rebuild after the devastating floods.

She was part of a group known as digital nomads, who support their travels through sponsorships and remote working. She had more than 42,000 followers on Instagram, which was her primary outlet, where she often posted from markets and bazaars to describe the food and culture to her followers.

Her earlier posts showed her in various markets and mosques in Iran. Many of her videos showed her cultural awareness, as in how to wrap her hair in accordance with the laws. She did not post any images of the protests, but she did write about them. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that first night,” she posted a few days after the protests began. “We had run to the hostel with our hearts in our throats, as the sounds of gunfire boomed behind us and the smell of gas wafted into the air... The chaos, which before that day, I didn’t know what it really was. I closed the door of the hostel as people screamed in the streets.”

Italy’s foreign ministry confirmed her arrest to The Daily Beast, but did not elaborate on what action was being taken to secure her freedom. Many of her posts have been marked with stern criticism in the comments about why she was in Iran in the first place, with a number of people posting that she deserved it. “We Europeans do not know anything about these people, the news that reaches us is retouched, and we have been too well used to marching like puppets, believing everything we are told,” she wrote a week ago. “Here, however, people are tired of being a puppet, which is why thousands of people are taking to the streets to protest. They are demonstrating for their freedom. Women, men, adolescents and the elderly. And every one of them, every single person, risks his own life when he goes on the streets.”

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