Physician Mohammad Shoja Arrested for Publishing a Photo of Food

Mohammad Shoja, a physician and pediatric heart specialist, has been apprehended by security forces in Bojnurd for sharing a picture of Cutlet (côtelette) food, which the regime authorities deemed insulting and blasphemous.

The incident unfolded in the aftermath of the Israeli airstrike in Syria that claimed the life of IRGC top commander Sayyed Razi Mousavi. Shoja’s social media post featuring the Cutlet was considered by the Bojnurd Prosecutor as an offensive reaction to Mousavi’s death.

“If charges are proven, Shoja will face the severest punishment,” declared the prosecutor. As of now, the precise location of Shoja’s detention remains undisclosed.

This arrest reflects a broader trend in Iran, where judicial authorities routinely prosecute citizens for their social media content, imposing stringent restrictions on freedom of expression. It raises concerns about the limitations placed on individuals to express their views openly in the digital space.