Iranian Hulk: My Photo Was Placed Next to the ISIS Executioner

Sajad Gharibi, a strong young Iranian, is a popular athlete on Instagram. His massive physique has caught the attention of some international media. Gharibi's Instagram page now has 120,000 followers, double what it had last month. His muscular build and resemblance to the cartoon character Hulk have earned him the nickname 'Iranian Hulk.' His body weight was 180 kg, but to prevent injuries associated with such weight, he started boxing training and has now reduced his weight to 155 kg. Gharibi states that his photo was placed next to an ISIS executioner to make some think he is one of them, despite his repeated warnings on Instagram not to believe such rumors. He mentions that some of his Iranian friends believe the Hulk is a violent and terrifying giant and that he should not have such a nickname, while abroad, it is seen as a legendary figure. The Hulk, or the green monster, is a comic book hero whose story revolves around a scientist named Bruce Banner who, affected by gamma rays, transforms into a green monster when angry, growing stronger with more rage. The wave of rumors and news continues. Gharibi says if he has to, he will take legal action. He also noted that he registered for the defenders of the shrine and deployment to Syria, stating that if he is worthy, he will go and defend his homeland as much as he can. Some users believe Gharibi's photos have been altered, particularly around his stomach, claiming that in photos taken with clothes, it is evident that his stomach is not sunken and his waist is not as slim as in his shirtless photos. Interestingly, despite significant international media attention, no Iranian media has sent a photographer to Gharibi to clarify the raised ambiguities. When asked if he has a history of participating in sports competitions or if he has gained such fame solely through bodybuilding training, he stated that he has been powerlifting for nine years. In 2010, heavy sports were banned for him by a doctor. In 2014, he intended to enter the Iron Man competitions, but unfortunately, state television no longer holds these competitions. Recently, more than ten other pages have been created in his name, which Gharibi has labeled as fake pages. This is a common practice on Instagram where some Iranian users create a page in the name of various personalities using news waves, and when the number of followers increases, they use that page for commercial and advertising purposes.