Iran Shuts Tehran Restaurant's Instagram Over 'Netanyahu Cutlet' Post

Iranian authorities have legally shut down the Instagram account of a Tehran restaurant named "Bibi's Kitchen" after it posted a story that combined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's name with the word "cutlet." The term "cutlet" has become a derogatory slang in Iran, used to mock the elimination of Revolutionary Guards commanders. The restaurant's post, which featured the caption "There's nothing like Bibi's cutlet" alongside a song by an Iranian pop star, was initially intended as a marketing effort. However, it quickly went viral and acquired a double meaning due to sensitive political contexts in Iran. The name "Bibi" is recognized in Iran as a nickname for Netanyahu and is frequently used by regime opponents on social media. The word "cutlet" (kotlet) has been used as a pejorative term since the January 2020 assassination of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, satirically referring to the bodies of regime officials killed in airstrikes. The combination was interpreted by users and authorities as a provocative reference to Israeli assassinations of Iranian officials.

This action follows a pattern of strict enforcement by Tehran authorities against any perceived sensitive use of the word "cutlet." In January 2023, a chef was arrested and his restaurant shut down for posting a cutlet recipe on the anniversary of Soleimani's assassination. Similarly, in January 2024, a doctor was arrested for posting a picture of a cutlet on the night of the assassination of IRGC official Razi Mousavi. In June, a playwright faced criminal charges for suggesting political reality turns men into "diet cutlets."

Iranian authorities have intensified their crackdown on content related to Israel or internal criticism, especially during the recent war. In March, over a thousand people were reportedly arrested for spreading anti-government material online or suspected collaboration with Israel and the United States. The judiciary has issued severe warnings, stating that any aid or support to hostile entities could result in heavy penalties, including the death penalty.