TikTok has suspended the account of “Metro finans,” a masked financial influencer who Expressen identified as Salar Ashour, 37, of Huddinge, Sweden. The account, which amassed over 130,000 followers, was used to disseminate Iranian propaganda and antisemitic conspiracy theories, according to reports.
The suspension, confirmed on Thursday, now displays a message stating, “The account metro.finans is no longer available.” Ashour’s Instagram account was previously removed several months ago, and he reportedly stated in a recent TikTok live stream that he has been unable to create a latest Instagram account.
Despite the removal of the primary account, numerous fake accounts claiming to be “Metro finans” remain active. Expressen has reached out to Ashour for comment regarding the TikTok suspension, but he has not responded.
Ashour addressed the account closures on X, formerly Twitter, writing, “When people try to get my accounts on TikTok and Instagram shut down just because I express a dissenting opinion, one has to wonder what kind of society they actually want.”
The influencer gained prominence by offering financial advice, promising followers the opportunity to “develop millions and billions.” However, his content shifted following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, becoming a platform for pro-Iranian messaging. According to Expressen, Ashour has threatened Swedish politicians and promoted antisemitic narratives. He reportedly earns approximately 500,000 Swedish krona per month through subscriptions on platforms like Patreon, making him one of Sweden’s highest-earning creators on the service.
In a statement reported by Expressen, Ashour proclaimed, “Iran has the right to defend itself and Iran stands for justice, for humanity and freedom.”
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