Iran has detained a prominent chef and Instagram influencer known for his videos promoting Persian cooking, in its crackdown on nationwide protests, human rights groups and supporters said on Thursday.
Navab Ebrahimi was arrested in Tehran on Wednesday and taken to the city's Evin prison, the Human Rights Activists News Agency said.
No reason was given for the arrest of Mr Ebrahimi, who has about 2.7 million followers on Instagram where he posts slickly produced videos showing how to prepare classic Persian dishes.
But social media users said the chef's arrest coincided with him posting a video for making Persian cutlets on the day Iranian authorities observed the third anniversary of the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Suleimani by the United States.
Some Iranians opposed to the regime have made a habit of posting images of cutlets on the anniversary of Gen Soleimani's death, in reference to the manner of his killing in a US drone strike in Iraq.
"Chef and influencer Navab Ebrahimi has been arrested in Tehran. Social media users speculate that his arrest had something to do with his Instagram story" about cutlets, said the New York-based Centre for Human Rights in Iran.
Nik Yousefi, an Iranian filmmaker and photographer who was arrested in October as part of the crackdown and then released, also wrote on Twitter that Mr Ebrahimi had been arrested and his cafe in Tehran, Noj, shut down.
Mr Ebrahimi's Instagram account is no longer accessible.
As the Iranian authorities organised commemorative events on Wednesday to mourn Suleimani's death, opponents shared images of people torching his image on banners.
According to the UN, Iran has arrested at least 14,000 people in the wave of protests sparked by the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, an Iranian Kurdish woman who had been arrested for allegedly breaching Iran's strict dress code for women.
Prominent journalists, filmmakers, lawyers and activists have been arrested. Some have been released on bail, including the actress Taraneh Alidoosti, but others remain in prison.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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