Iranian Instagram star arrested on blasphemy charge

Sahar Tabar found fame last year after posting images of her face altered by plastic surgery

Sahar Tabar was detained on the orders of Tehran's guidance court, which deals with "cultural crimes and social and moral corruption", Tasnim news agency said late Saturday. Photo: Instagram
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Iran has arrested an Instagram star, famous for drastically altering her appearance through cosmetic surgery.

Sahar Tabar was detained on the orders of Tehran's guidance court, which deals with "cultural crimes and social and moral corruption", Tasnim news agency said late Saturday.

She faces charges including blasphemy, inciting violence, gaining income through inappropriate means and encouraging youths to corruption, the news agency added.

Ms Tabar found fame through Instagram last year after posting a series of images of her face altered through plastic surgery.

Most of the photos and videos shared with her 26,800 followers have also been heavily edited on Photoshop so that she resembles a spooky version Hollywood star Angelina Jolie.

The account features images of her with a gaunt face, pouting lips and sharply turned-up nose.

In some, she is wearing a hijab over her hair and a white bandage on her nose, commonly seen on Tehran's streets.

Cosmetic surgery is hugely popular in Iran, with tens of thousands of operations each year.

Instagram is the only major social media service accessible in Iran. Facebook, Twitter and the Telegram messenger service are officially banned.