Prosecution Announced Against Hossein Pakdel Following His Instagram Story About 'Steak' and 'Cutlet'

The judiciary of the Islamic Republic has filed charges against Hossein Pakdel, a veteran presenter and actor, for 'insulting' former President Ebrahim Raisi and former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. The Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, reported on Thursday, June 7, without naming Mr. Pakdel, that the Tehran prosecutor's office has opened a legal case against 'a presenter and actor for insult and abuse.' However, the Tasnim news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, stated that the 'abusive individual' is Hossein Pakdel, who has been accused of insulting Raisi and Soleimani due to an Instagram story he posted. Mr. Pakdel, who previously worked as a presenter for the Islamic Republic's broadcasting organization, wrote on his Instagram account: 'The kitchen of politics turns cooked men into rubber steak, and from foolish men, the regime's special cutlet.' It seems that the judiciary has filed charges against Mr. Pakdel due to his use of the terms 'steak' and 'cutlet' in this story. In recent years, in addition to acting, Hossein Pakdel has also hosted the Tehran auction. The term 'cutlet' has gained special meaning in recent years due to the manner of Qassem Soleimani's death, the former commander of the Quds Force, in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. Social media users critical of or opposed to the Islamic Republic compare Soleimani's complete demise with the making of cutlet. Previously, some social media users, including the famous chef Nobaveh Ebrahimi, faced repercussions from the Islamic Republic's security agencies for posting about 'cutlet.' Mizan news agency also added without providing details that 'following the mischief of a newspaper, the necessary warning was issued to the responsible manager.' According to Tasnim, the newspaper that received a warning from the Tehran prosecutor's office is 'Jahan San'at.' Following the death of Ebrahim Raisi and his companions in a helicopter crash on May 30, a wave of arrests of social media users accused of insulting Raisi was initiated. Among those arrested was Reza Babernajad, the brother of the bereaved Mehdi Babernajad, who was killed during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests on June 1. Additionally, the judiciary's information base in Kerman province announced on June 3 that '254 individuals' had received 'warnings and guidance via telephone' for publishing 'insulting' content in collaboration with the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence organization, and judicial summonses were issued for eight others.