Police have dealt with dozens of people that officials describe as “members of the largest modeling network” in the southern city of Hormozgan, according to an announcement by local police chief Azizollah Maleki on December 25, 2018.
More than 54 people have been dealt with in the southern port city of Hormozgan, 630 miles south of Tehran, the state-run IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.
“In an operation with intelligence identification, the provincial public security police officers have identified a number of women models who are in collaboration with some classes, including women’s hairdressers, studios and ateliers. In this regard, with the coordination of a judicial authority, 54 women and girl models were identified and legal proceedings were taken towards the case,” Azizollah Maleki said.
Maleki pointed out that ‘members of the network’ had violated the norms by desiminating unethical photos on social media.
At the time Iranian police vowed to crack down further, and said they planned to shut down similar bands on the popular social media network.
Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the country has had strict rules governing women’s behavior and dress. Women can face penalties ranging from a $25 (£19) fine to prison time for even showing their hair.
In July 2018, Iran arrested dozens of people, including Instagram models and beauty salon owners, for posting photos online, in a recent crackdown against “immoral” behaviour.
Among the detainees were Instagram models, and people who work in photography, beauty salons and wedding businesses, who used social media to share footage that the state deems “indecent”.
