Celebrity Chef `Iran`s Jamie Oliver` beaten to death amid anti-Hijab protests, fresh protests erupt

Iran: Amid the ongoing anti-hijab protests in Iran, celebrity chef Mehrshad Shahidi, who was also known as Iran’s Jamie Oliver, was allegedly beaten to death by the nation’s Revolutionary Guard forces, the day before his 20th birthday. His “ruthless” killing triggered an outpouring of grief in Iran, where thousands of people reportedly took to the streets on Saturday during the funeral held for Mr Shahidi.

According to his family, Shahidi was killed after receiving blows to his skull and told the media, “our son lost his life as a result of receiving baton blows to his head after his arrest, but we have been under pressure by the regime to say that he has died of a heart attack.”

Meanwhile, the Iranian authorities have dismissed the claims of killing the chef under custody and said that the cause of his death shall be announced later. On Friday, Chief Justice of the province, Abdolmehdi Mousavi, said that “there are no signs of fractures in the arms, legs, skull, or any brain injury.”

Deputy Governor of the province, Behnam Nazari, meanwhile, is quoted as saying that “the rumors are being spread by anti-Iran media, but no bullets have been shot at Mehrshad Shahidi.”

Protests for Shahidi’s burial have erupted, with thousands rallying on Saturday. Security personnel allegedly used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, who chanted, “Everyone who is killed will be supported by thousands more.”

Riots erupted across Iran in response to Mahsa Amini’s heinous death, which occurred after she was beaten to death by the IRGC for failing to wear the country’s strict hijab requirements. The first photos of Mahsa Amini were released by Niloofar Hamedi triggering protests in Tehran which then spread to other countries with at least 234 protesters, including 29 children, killed by security forces in crackdowns.