Iran Blocks Tehran Restaurant's Instagram Over "Bibi's Cutlet" Post

Iranian authorities have blocked the Instagram account of a popular Tehran restaurant named "Bibi's Kitchen" after it posted a wordplay perceived as a political jab against the Islamic Republic. The restaurant shared a story featuring the phrase "There's nothing like Bibi's cutlet," accompanied by a song by Iranian pop star Moein. The post quickly went viral before the account was shut down by legal order for allegedly publishing criminal content.

While ostensibly promoting a menu item, the phrase carries a double meaning within Iran's political lexicon. "Bibi" is an old Persian word for grandmother but is also widely recognized as a nickname for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, appearing in memes used by regime opponents to express support for Israeli strikes. The term "cutlet" (kotlet) has become a derogatory term since the January 2020 assassination of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, used to mock the state of his body after the U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. It has since been applied to regime officials killed in military strikes, leading the restaurant's post to be interpreted as a reference to Israeli assassinations of Iranian officials.

Iranian authorities have previously cracked down on the use of the word "cutlet." In January 2023, a well-known chef was arrested after posting a cutlet recipe on the anniversary of Soleimani's assassination; his restaurant was closed and his account removed. In January 2024, a doctor and university lecturer was arrested for posting a picture of a cutlet on the night of the assassination of IRGC official Razi Mousavi. Last June, a playwright and theater director faced criminal charges for allegedly disrupting the nation's psychological security after writing on Instagram that politics turns foolish men into special diet cutlets.

The sensitivity surrounding Israel-related topics has intensified during the ongoing war. In March, Iranian authorities announced over a thousand arrests for sharing anti-government material online or cooperating with Israel and the United States, with the judiciary warning that aiding hostile countries could result in the death penalty.