"They haven't touched a hair on my head but I can't phone; they seized my cell phone and belongings, although they're not charging me with anything," Del Grande said using the administrative detention centre's landline.
“I've been able to phone only after days of protests.”
The 34-year-old human rights activist said that though his documents are in order, he hasn’t been allowed to name a lawyer and has no idea when he will be released.
"The reason for the arrest is linked to the content of my work; I've been subjected to questioning in this regard,” Del Grande added.
The reporter’s family stated that there had been no news from him since he was arrested by Turkish authorities in the province of Hatay near the Syria-Turkey border eight days ago.
"We can trust all we want but knowing nothing makes us very anxious," Del Grande’s father said, adding that the last they'd heard from him was an SMS to his wife to say he’d been arrested.
"The important thing is that he returns home; he has two small children and a wife, as well as us.
"The Turkish authorities have assured he is well but none of us have been able to get in touch with him yet, and nor has the [Italian] embassy."
Del Grande is also a blogger and documentary filmmaker who has dedicated much time to raising awareness on migrant issues.
