'When did Johnny convert to Shia Islam?': Depp look-alike 'spotted' taking part in Ashura procession in Iran
An Iranian man bearing an uncanny resemblance to the US actor Johnny Depp has been seen taking part in Ashura commemorations in Tabriz, prompting humorous reactions.
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An Iranian man resembling Johnny Depp went viral on social media after photos of him taking part in Ashura commemorations in Iran spread online [Getty]
A Johnny Depp look-alike took part in Ashura processions in Iran this week, sparking amusing debates on social media about whether the actor had converted to the Shia sect of Islam.
The man, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the US actor, sported mid-length hair, a goatee, and dark sunglasses - trademarks of Depp - in images that have gone viral on social media.
Videos online showed the 'Pirates of The Caribbean' doppelganger in a Hussainiya in the northern city of Tabriz, raising sticks as he took part in Mishaq - a reenactment of war preparations usually carried out to commemorate the Battle of Karbala, which the festival of Ashura is centered around.
آمبر شسوت فيه اللي قمنا نشوفه بحسينية . pic.twitter.com/N864i5D8Aj
— فاخِرة جدًا (@Nobody_m7ad) August 7, 2022
Hussainiyas are congressional halls where Twelver Shia Muslims gather to perform ceremonies, particularly those related to the mourning of the month of Muharram.
Several users online found the presence of a Johnny Depp look-alike amusing, with some referring to him with typical Shia monikers, such as Hussein Al-Deeb.
The pan-Arab media outlet Akhbar Al-Aan identified the look-alike as an Iranian man named Amin Sales, who, according to his Instagram page, works as a model.
In images posted on his profile page, Sales takes part in photo shoots bearing a striking resemblance to the US actor, with many Instagram users commenting.
Ashura is currently being celebrated among Shia Muslims in the Middle East and beyond - including Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
The occasion is usually sombre, where worshippers convey their sadness and grief as they mourn the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hussein, who Shia Muslims believe is the third imam, or head of the Muslim community, and a successor of the Prophet.
Mourners use several methods of expression to mark the event including crying and the beating of chests, as well as the wearing of black clothes and raising banners symbolic of Imam Hussein's martyrdom.
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