Sahar Tabar, a young woman from Tehran, garnered global attention with her eerie resemblance to a ‘zombie Angelina Jolie’ in her Instagram photos. Recently, she made headlines again, this time revealing her true appearance on Iranian television after her release from prison.
Tabar, whose real name is Fatemah Khishvand, became an internet sensation with her heavily altered images that many believed were the result of extreme plastic surgery. However, she clarified this week that her ghoulish appearance was actually due to makeup and photo editing, not surgical procedures.
In 2019, Fatemah was arrested on charges of corruption and blasphemy, along with accusations of obscenity and insulting the hijab. She was sentenced to ten years in prison. However, after serving just 14 months, she was released, much to the relief of her supporters and family.
Activist Masih Alinejad reported her release, sharing the news on social media. Alinejad highlighted the harshness of Tabar’s punishment for what was essentially a social media prank, stating, “Sahar Tabar is only 19. Her joke landed her in jail.” She also shared that Tabar’s mother had been distraught during her incarceration, pleading for her daughter’s freedom.