An Iranian couple leave their country after posting 'un-Islamic' photos on Instagram

Elnaz and Hamid in Dubai

A celebrity couple have had to leave Iran because of photos they posted online.

Under the country's strict Islamic laws, women have had to cover their hair in public since 1979.

But model Elnaz Golrokh, who with partner Hamid Fadei are famous in Iran because of their Instagram photos, has been posting pictures without wearing a headscarf.

They are now putting up updates, for their 850,000 followers, from Dubai.

She posted a selfie recently of her sat on a sofa. She didn't have a headscarf on.

Many Instagram models in Iran don't wear headscarves, despite that being illegal.

The authorities think pictures posted on social media sites are "un-Islamic", and the country's supreme leader has described the internet as the frontline in a warzone for the Westernisation of the east.

One of Iran's chief prosecutors says they've been spying on people's social media accounts for a couple of years as part of something called Operation Spider II.

Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi says they've been monitoring around 300 Instagram profiles, as well as 50 hair salons, modelling agencies and photography studios.

Elnaz's husband, Hamid, is also a model. He posts photos online too.

Eight people have been arrested so far.

Via her Instagram account, Elnaz Golrokh says she's not one of them, but she and her husband have left the country regardless.

"Neither did I leave Iran on bail nor was I in custody."

In January, she posted: "Before anything else, I am sorry that during this time I have not been able to return the calls made by you dear friends.

"Unfortunately for the moment I will not be active in Iran, but I will continue my work outside Iran. Thanks for your support and your positive energy. I love you."

Elnaz is a big Rihanna fan, and posted this video of her flicking her hair to Work.

In a separate post, she claims she wants to return to the country one day and bring "the most up to date international services and increase the level of the cosmetic industry".

The Instagram posts are in Farsi.

Elham Arab, known in Iran for her portraits in wedding dresses, is one the eight people who was arrested.

She was quizzed in court on state TV a few days ago about why she got into the industry.

She appeared with a headscarf on, apologised, and said what she'd done was wrong.

"All people love beauty and fame," she said. "They would like to be seen, but it is important to know what price they will pay to be seen."

Artists, poets, journalists and activists have also been arrested in the crackdown on "un-Islamic acts".

Meanwhile, Iran's Centre for Surveying and Combating Organised Cyber-Crimes has accused Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom of trying to corrupt Iranians through Kim Kardashian and modelling.

Spokesman Mostafa Alizadeh said: "As you know, Ms Kim Kardashian is a serious model in America. In a modelling event held for Instagram, the CEO of Instagram called her 'the ruler of Instagram.'

He added that domestic "efforts to create rivals for foreign models" is on the top of the agenda of the scientific and ideology department".

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