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Isfahan Police Block 35 Instagram Pages for 'Promoting Western Lifestyle'

Jan 24, 2026 January 24, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

Isfahan police have blocked 35 Instagram pages for promoting a Western lifestyle and inappropriate content, claiming they had an average of 70,000 views. The authorities are cracking down on what they consider moral crimes in cyberspace, despite the widespread use of filtered social media platforms among Iranians. This reflects ongoing tensions between government censorship and public engagement with Western media.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The blocking of Instagram pages underscores the Iranian government's ongoing battle against Western cultural influence in the digital space.

👥 Key Players

Mostafa Mortezavi MENTIONED
Head of Cyber Police of Isfahan's Law Enforcement Command
"He is responsible for enforcing internet regulations and combating what the Iranian government considers moral crimes."
Iranian Government MENTIONED
Ruling authority in Iran
"The government seeks to control social media content to align with Islamic and cultural norms, reflecting broader censorship policies."

📰 What Happened

Isfahan police blocked 35 Instagram pages for promoting a Western lifestyle and inappropriate content, claiming these pages had significant viewership. The operators of these pages have been referred to judicial authorities as part of a crackdown on what the police label as moral crimes in cyberspace.

  • The blocked pages averaged 70,000 views each.
  • 91% of content deemed 'tainted by moral crimes' is reportedly produced on Instagram.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This crackdown highlights the Iranian government's struggle to maintain control over cultural narratives in the face of widespread social media use.
🌍 Regional: It reflects ongoing tensions in the region regarding cultural influence and the clash between traditional values and modern lifestyles.
🌐 International: The actions may draw criticism from international human rights organizations and further isolate Iran from Western nations advocating for freedom of expression.

📚 Background

Iran has a history of internet censorship, particularly targeting content that contradicts Islamic values. Despite this, a significant portion of the population uses filtered social media platforms.

Internet censorship in Iran Cultural influence of Western media
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
This report reflects the Iranian government's perspective on internet regulation and may downplay public dissent or alternative viewpoints.

The head of the Cyber Police of Isfahan's Law Enforcement Command stated on Saturday, June 1, that 35 Instagram pages were identified and blocked for 'promoting a Western lifestyle and publishing inappropriate content.' Mostafa Mortezavi added that these 35 pages had an average of 70,000 views, and their operators were posting 'vulgar images and inappropriate modeling advertisements.' This police official further stated that the contents of these pages have been deleted and their operators have been referred to judicial authorities. The head of the Cyber Police also remarked that these 'irresponsible and exploitative individuals do anything to attract followers and seek to earn money by spreading vulgar content in virtual spaces.' In May of this year, the head of the Cyber Police announced the implementation of a plan to 'combat moral crimes and those contrary to Islamic, social, and cultural norms in cyberspace.' He also claimed that according to investigations, 91% of the content he labeled as 'tainted by moral crimes' is produced on Instagram. This claim comes at a time when Instagram, along with popular platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Telegram, and WhatsApp, are all filtered in Iran. Nevertheless, according to the latest survey by ISPA, the Iranian Students Polling Agency, published in February 2023, 46.5% of Iranians use Instagram, 35.3% use WhatsApp, and 34.6% use Telegram.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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