Kannur: Ajman Police in the UAE have arrested a Kannur native for the unauthorised use and circulation of photographs of a Kerala-born fashion blogger and social media influencer to promote massage parlours.

The police have not revealed the identity of the accused, but Hafisa Firoz, the blogger and influencer, said she was saddened to learn that the arrested person was a Malayali from her own district.

Hafisa, a native of Mattannur in Kannur district, is a licensed fashion and electronics goods blogger with a strong online presence, with around 1.38 lakh followers on Instagram, where she creates digital content and brand promotions.

She said her photographs were inappropriately used by two spas, accompanied by captions that falsely suggested sexualised services. “I was hurt when people sent me screenshots of those posts and made fun of me,” she said.

The posts included messages such as “she is available for massage” and “visitors will have a good relaxing experience,” seriously misrepresenting her identity and harming her professional reputation, said Adv Salam Pappinishery, CEO of Yab Legal Services, which took up her case pro bono.

Even after the arrest, the posts continue to be available on the Facebook pages of the two spas, said Adv Twayyib P, an associate of Adv Salam.

Based on a complaint filed through the Ajman Prosecution, a criminal case was registered at the Ajman City Police Station, invoking provisions related to cybercrime, defamation, slander, and violation of personal data. Investigators found that the images misused in the case were taken directly from her verified Instagram account, where they were originally posted for legitimate promotional purposes. “I realised that many people may have been in the same situation. But I did not want to suffer silently,” she said.