Sasha Sobhani: Iran demands extradition of influencers from Spain

The Iranian musician Mohammed "Sasha" Sobhani shows a lifestyle on social media that is displeasing to the regime in Tehran: on Instagram he likes to present himself with scantily clad women and show luxurious clothes, cars and accommodations.

2.6 million people follow him there.

Sobhani is the son of Iran's ex-ambassador to Venezuela, Ahmad Sobhani.

Now he is to be tried in his home country.

According to media reports, Iran has filed an extradition request to Spain, where the influencer has lived for two years.

Sobhani is accused of running illegal gambling and money laundering websites.

These are banned in Iran, according to the British BBC, he denied this at a hearing in a court in Madrid.

He only signed contracts to advertise gambling sites.

The 33-year-old son of a diplomat had lived with his father outside of Iran for a long time, but later returned to his homeland.

There he became a member of the "Rich Kids of Tehran" group, which - in stark contrast to the customs of the strictly religious country - flaunt a western lifestyle on social media.

Sobhani said he was sentenced to prison for organizing raves, but was able to flee to Turkey.

For some time now, he has also been posting videos on the Internet that deal critically with the government in Tehran.

He told the Spanish newspaper »El Mundo«: »I criticize the regime, the lack of freedom, I teach people how I live and tell them that they could have it that way too.

And of course Iran cannot allow the son of a senior official to say these things. "

In the event of an extradition, Sobhani fears serious consequences: "They would torture me there until I beg them to kill me." But he trusts the Spanish judiciary.

According to the BBC, the Iranian police arrested more than 30 people in December for allegedly involved in the gambling sector.

This should also include Instagram influencers with more than a million followers.

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