Iranian Angelina Jolie lookalike arrested for blasphemy, inciting violence
What's the story
Iranian Instagram celebrity Sahar Tabar shot to fame in late 2017 after her photos resembling a ghastly version of Hollywood star Angelina Jolie went viral. Tabar, 22, was rumored to have undergone 50 surgeries to attain a sharp nose, pouty lips and sunken cheeks. Shockingly, the drastic change in appearance has now led to Tabar's arrest. Here are more details.
Arrest
Tabar arrested following public complaints
Tabar was detained on the orders of the Teheran's guidance court, Agence France-Presse reported, citing Iranian news agency Tasnim. The court deals with "cultural crimes and social and moral corruption." According to the Tasnim report, Tabar faces charges of blasphemy, inciting violence, gaining income through inappropriate means and encouraging youths to corruption. Tabar's arrest comes after members of the public filed complaints against her.
Details
Tabar achieved look through surgeries, makeup, Photoshop
Tabar first broke the internet in 2017 and continued to make headlines the following year. With each article, Tabar grew more popular, attaining 26,800 followers on her Instagram account, which has since been deleted. Her Instagram featured images that have been likened in appearance to Angelina Jolie and animated film character Corpse Bride. She achieved the look with several surgeries, heavy makeup, and photo-editing.
Quote
'It's a way of expressing yourself, a kind of art'
Reportedly, Tabar has admitted to getting a nose job, lip fillers and liposuction, however, she asserted that most of it is Photoshop and makeup. She said, "Every time I publish a photo, I paint my face in an increasingly funny way. It is a way of expressing yourself, a kind of art. My fans know that this is not my real face."
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Didn't think about looking like Jolie: Tabar
She added, "I didn't even think about being like Jolie. Also, I didn't want to resemble the cartoon Corpse Bride. Now I understand that I have something to do with them, but I'm a muse myself and remembering someone is not an end in itself."
Plastic surgery
Despite conservatism, plastic surgery is quite popular in Iran
Tabar's photos also show her with a pushed-back headscarf and a bandage over her nose. The imagery has in recent years become a style statement for women in larger Iranian cities where going under the knife became synonymous with being upper-class. Even in a conservative nation like Iran, cosmetic surgery has become hugely popular, with tens of thousands of operations taking place each year.