Iranian models arrested for posting pictures without headscarves

 

Eight Iranian models have been arrested for appearing online for an "un-Islamic" network, the country's judicial system confirmed yesterday.

The announcement, by Tehran's cyber-crimes court, confirms reports of disappearances of faces that had become well-known on social media feeds like Instagram.

The Islamic Republic has begun cracking down on liberalising trends particularly related to proper "hijab" - the covering of women's hair out of modesty.

The court said a "sting" operation code-named "Spider 2" had been set up to trawl through social media feeds and find Iranian women posting pictures of themselves without hijab.

It said it had identified 170 accounts on Instagram, including 59 photographers and make-up artists, 58 individual models, 51 "fashion salon managers", and others, that were responsible.

It said that one in five of all Instagram feeds in Iran were run by this "circle" that spread "immoral and un-Islamic culture and promiscuity".
The court accused the models of making money from appearing online. One woman, named as Elham Arab by the judiciary-linked website Mizan Online, has already given evidence in a court case.
Unlike Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, Instagram has not yet been blocked in Iran.
The models are believed to be on bail, but facing heavy charges including "spreading prostitution" and "promoting corruption".
Those arrested according to earlier reports include the models Melikaa Zamani, Niloofar Behboudi, Donya Moghadam, Dana Nik, Shabnam Molavi, Elnaz Golrokh and Hamid Fadaei.
The last two are said to be married, and to have subsequently left Iran. Ms Golrokh issued a statement at the time saying: “Unfortunately for the moment I will not be active in Iran, but I will continue my work outside Iran. Thanks for your support and your positive energy. I love you.”