Iran dancing couple given 10-year jail sentence

Iran dancing couple given 10-year jail sentence
# 31 January 2023 20:52 (UTC +04:00)

An Iranian couple in their 20s have been given jail sentences totalling 10 years after posting a video of themselves dancing in the street, APA reports citing BBC.

They were reportedly convicted for promoting corruption, prostitution and propaganda.

The video showed them dancing by Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Tower.

Authorities are handing heavy sentences to people seen to be involved in protests after the death of a woman who was detained by morality police.

The couple did not link their dance to the ongoing protests in Iran.

A source has confirmed to BBC Monitoring that the couple's arrest came after they posted the video to their Instagram accounts, which have a combined following of nearly two million.

Astiazh Haqiqi, 21, and her fiance Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, 22, are said to be convicted of "promoting corruption and prostitution, colluding against national security, and propaganda against the establishment".

The family home of Ms Haqiqi, who lists her profession as a fashion designer, was raided before the arrest.

It is unclear how long the sentence is for each of the separate convictions they are facing. They have each been sentenced to a total of 10 and a half years - a combined sentence for the charges.

If their verdicts are upheld, they will have to serve the longest one of those sentencing terms.

According to reports, they were also handed a two-year ban on using social media and leaving the country.

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