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Iranian social media celebrity Sahar Tabar (file photo)
Iranian social media celebrity Sahar Tabar (file photo)

Iran has arrested an Instagram star famed for drastically altering her appearance to look like U.S. actress Angelina Jolie, the Tasnim news agency has reported.

The social media celebrity known as Sahar Tabar was detained for crimes including blasphemy, instigating violence, and encouraging corruption among youths, Tasnim said late on October 5.

Her Instagram account has since been deleted.

Tabar, 22, made international headlines last year after posting a series of images of her face altered through plastic surgery.

Though Tabar was rumored to have had 50 plastic surgeries, most of the photos shared with her 26,800 followers had been heavily edited.

Some of the images depicted Tabar wearing a loosely fitting hijab over her hair and a white bandage.

Instagram is the only major social media service accessible in Iran, which has banned Facebook, Twitter and the Telegram messenger service.

Based on reporting by BBC and AFP
The impeachment probe is centered on allegations concerning a phone call U.S. President Donald Trump (right) had with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodomyr Zelenskiy on on July 25.
The impeachment probe is centered on allegations concerning a phone call U.S. President Donald Trump (right) had with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodomyr Zelenskiy on on July 25.

A second whistle-blower "with firsthand" information about U.S. President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine has spoken with the intelligence community's internal watchdog.

That is according to a lawyer representing the original whistle-blower, who filed a formal complaint with the inspector-general last month that's triggered an impeachment inquiry against Trump.

Lawyer Mark Zaid told ABC News on October 6 that the second person is also an intelligence official and has been interviewed by the inspector-general.

The Associated Press quoted Zaid as saying that the official has "firsthand knowledge that supported" the original whistle-blower.

The original whistle-blower claimed that Trump was "using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country" in the 2020 U.S. election.

The allegation is associated with the phone call Trump made with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on July 25.

Trump has repeatedly rejected the accusation.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and the BBC

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"Watchdog" is a blog with a singular mission -- to monitor the latest developments concerning human rights, civil society, and press freedom. We'll pay particular attention to reports concerning countries in RFE/RL's broadcast region.

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