Iran Blocks Restaurant Instagram Over Political Wordplay Involving Cutlets
Iranian authorities blocked a Tehran restaurant's Instagram account over a post combining the words "Bibi" and "cutlet," viewed as political satire referencing Israeli strikes and liquidated officials.
Instagram Account Blocked Over Political Wordplay
Iranian authorities have blocked the Instagram account of a Tehran restaurant after it published a social media post featuring a political double entendre targeting the Islamic Republic. The establishment, named "Bibi's Kitchen", shared a story featuring the phrase "There is nothing like Bibi's cutlet," accompanied by the song "Bibi Gol" by Iranian pop star Moein. Shortly after the post went viral, the account was shut down by a judicial order for publishing criminal content.
While ostensibly intended to promote a menu item, the terms used carry potent political subtexts in Iran. The word "Bibi" can mean "grandmother" in ancient Persian, but it is widely recognized as the moniker of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, frequently used by regime opponents in internet memes supporting Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, the term "cutlet" has evolved into a derogatory slang term since the January 2020 assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, mocking the condition of his remains following a US drone strike in Baghdad.
"The combination of terms was interpreted by authorities as a veiled reference to the elimination of Iranian officials by Israel, prompting swift judicial action." - Iranian judicial report
Crackdown on Culinary Slang and Dissent
Iranian law enforcement has previously cracked down on the cultural use of the word "cutlet" in political contexts. In January 2023, prominent chef Navab Ebrahimi was arrested, his restaurant closed, and his social media presence erased after he published a cutlet recipe on the anniversary of Soleimani's death. A similar incident occurred in January 2024 when a university lecturer and physician was detained for posting a photo of a cutlet on the night high-ranking IRGC commander Razi Mousavi was killed.
Sensitivities regarding references to Israel have heightened significantly amid ongoing regional conflicts. Iranian authorities announced in March that over a thousand individuals have been arrested on charges of sharing anti-government material online or allegedly collaborating with Israel and the United States. Concurrently, the judiciary has issued stark warnings emphasizing that assisting hostile states can carry the death penalty.
