Emily
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.
