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Iranian Instagram Influencer Sahar Tabar, Known as ‘Zombie Angelina Jolie,’ Released from Prison
Sahar Tabar, an Iranian Instagram influencer, gained notoriety in 2017 for her eerie photos where she appeared to resemble Hollywood star Angelina Jolie. Dubbed ‘Zombie Angelina Jolie,’ Tabar was arrested in October 2019 on various charges, including blasphemy. Recently, she has revealed her face after spending 14 months in prison.
Tabar’s release coincides with widespread protests in Iran, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody for not wearing her hijab correctly. The protests have highlighted issues of women’s rights and government repression in the country.
The Rise of ‘Zombie Angelina Jolie’
Sahar Tabar, whose real name is Fatemeh Khishvand, became an internet sensation in 2017 with her haunting, ‘zombie-like’ images on Instagram.
These photos featured her with a razor-sharp jawline, sunken cheeks, exaggerated pout, icy blue contact lenses, a distorted nose, and pale skin. Despite rumors that her appearance was due to botched plastic surgery, Tabar later admitted that her ghostly look was achieved through makeup and photo editing.
Tabar, who hails from Tehran, confessed to undergoing some cosmetic procedures like a nose job, lip fillers, and liposuction. However, she clarified that the more extreme aspects of her appearance were digitally enhanced. “What you saw on Instagram was the computer effects I used to create the image,” she told an Iranian news outlet.
Her aim was to achieve fame, believing social media to be an easier path than traditional acting.
The Reality Behind the Photos
Initially, Tabar claimed she had undergone over 50 surgeries to achieve her look. However, in a 2017 interview with Russian news outlet Sputnik, she admitted that her photos were altered for entertainment.
“Every time I publish a photo, I paint my face in an increasingly funny way,” she explained. She considered her photos a form of artistic expression and maintained that her followers understood her face wasn’t real.
Arrest and Imprisonment
In October 2019, Tabar was arrested and charged with blasphemy, instigating violence, illegally acquiring property, insulting the country’s dress code, and encouraging young people to commit corruption. Her Instagram account was subsequently deleted.
During her imprisonment, Tabar pleaded with Angelina Jolie to advocate for her release, highlighting Iran’s oppressive treatment of women. In 2020, she received a 10-year prison sentence. Iranian-American journalist and activist Masih Alinejad also called on Jolie to help, tweeting: “10 years jail for Iranian Instagramer who used make up & Photoshop to become a zombie Angelina Jolie. Sahar Tabar is only 19.
Her joke landed her in jail. Her mother cries every day to get her innocent daughter freed. Dear Angelina Jolie! we need your voice here. Help us.”
“Sahar Tabar appears to have been detained solely in connection with her posts on Instagram,” Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Research Director, was quoted as saying by The Sun.
“If this is indeed the case, she should be immediately and unconditionally released. Sharing photos on social media apps is not a crime,” Luther had said.