Iran has detained a prominent chef and Instagram influencer known for videos promoting Persian cuisine amid a crackdown on nationwide protests, human rights groups and advocates said.
Navab Ebrahimi was arrested in Tehran on Wednesday and taken to the city’s Evin prison, the Human Rights Activist Agency said.
No reason was given for Ebrahimi’s arrest, who has 2.7 million followers on Instagram but can no longer access his account. On New Year’s Day, he said he was arrested for posting a recipe for Persian cutlets.
Some Iranians who opposed the regime have made a habit of posting images of cutlets on the anniversary of his death.
The New York-based Iranian Human Rights Center said, “Chef and influencer Nabab Ebrahimi has been arrested in Tehran. Social media users speculate his arrest has something to do with his Instagram story. .”
Iranian filmmaker and photographer Nick Yousefi, who was arrested in October as part of the crackdown and then released, tweeted that Ebrahimi had been arrested and his cafe in Tehran, Noj, was closed. wrote.
When Iranian authorities organized a memorial event to mourn Suleimani’s death this week, opponents shared images of people holding a statue of him torchlight.
According to the UN, Iran has arrested at least 14,000 people. Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who was arrested on suspicion of violating a strict dress code, died in her custody in September in a wave of protests. for women.
Prominent journalists, filmmakers, lawyers and activists have been arrested. Some have been released on bail, while others remain in prison.
