Fri 06 January 2023:
New York-based human rights activists said on Thursday (January 6) that Iran has detained a prominent chef and Instagram influencer as part of its crackdown on nationwide protests.
Ebrahimi has some 2.7 million followers on Instagram. His videos promote Persian cooking.
No reason has been given for the arrest of Ebrahimi.
However, social media users have pointed out that Ebrahimi’s arrest coincided with him posting a recipe to make Persian cutlets on the day the Iranian authorities marked the third anniversary of the killing by the United States of Revolutionary Guards General Qassem Soleimani.
Chef & influencer #NavabEbrahimi has been arrested in Tehran.
Social media users speculate that his arrest had something to do with his Instagram story about “#kotlet,” a Persian food, the name of which has been used to refer to IRGC general Qasem Soleimani.#نواب_ابراهیمی pic.twitter.com/7PuJloyHai
— IranHumanRights.org (@ICHRI) January 5, 2023
بچه ها ویکی پدیای عاج غاصم 😂😂😂#kotlet pic.twitter.com/m0PonHYeuT
— • شلبی • (@ElChildOfIran) January 5, 2023
#قاسم_کتلت#kotlet
ا😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/FvBmiFLamC— NIKA💞 (@violetgirl_21) January 3, 2023
Navab Ebrahimi, Iranian chef, was arrested on Jan 4 at his restaurant, after he posted a story showing the recipe of “kotlet” on IRGC General Qasem Soleimani’s death anniversary. Kotlet, a popular Iranian food, is a metaphor of Qasem, referring to the way he was killed by U.S. pic.twitter.com/DDYJ8hBdAA
— Ghoncheh (@GhonchehAzad) January 5, 2023
Some Iranians opposed to the regime have made a habit of posting images of cutlets on the anniversary of Gen Soleimani’s death, in reference to the manner of his killing in a US drone strike in Iraq.
As the Iranian authorities organised commemorative events on Wednesday to mourn Suleimani’s death, opponents shared images of people torching his image on banners.
“Chef and influencer Navab Ebrahimi has been arrested in Tehran. Social media users speculate that his arrest had something to do with his Instagram story” about cutlets, said the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran.
Ebrahimi’s Instagram account is no longer accessible.
Iran is still witnessing protests that started after custodial death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was detained by Iran’s morality police for her ‘improper’ attire.
Prominent journalists, filmmakers, lawyers and activists have been arrested. Some have been released on bail, including the actress Taraneh Alidoosti, but others remain in prison.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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