Iranian couple filmed dancing in Tehran are jailed for 10 years

An Iranian couple in their 20s have been given jail sentences totaling 10 years after posting a video of themselves dancing in the street.

Astiazh Haqiqi, 21, and her fiance Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, 22, were reportedly convicted for "promoting corruption and prostitution, colluding against national security, and propaganda against the establishment".

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

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.

 

They were also reportedly handed a two-year ban on using social media and leaving the country.

from BBC