Iranian police have arrested Instagram celebrity Sahar Tabar, known for her drastically altered appearance through cosmetic surgery. Tabar was detained by order of Tehran’s guidance court, which handles cases of “cultural crimes and social and moral corruption.”
Tabar faces several charges, including blasphemy, inciting violence, earning income through inappropriate means, and encouraging youths to corruption. Her rise to fame began last year when she posted a series of heavily edited photos on Instagram, where she appeared to resemble Hollywood star Angelina Jolie.
With 26,800 followers, her account features images of her with a gaunt face, pouting lips, and a sharply turned-up nose. Many photos show her wearing a loosely fitting hijab and a white bandage on her nose, a common sight in Tehran due to the popularity of cosmetic surgery.
In Iran, cosmetic surgery is widespread, with tens of thousands of procedures performed annually. Instagram remains one of the few major social media platforms accessible in the country, as Facebook, Twitter, and the Telegram messenger service are officially banned.