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An Iranian court last Friday sentenced seven people to prison for making a viral video earlier this year in which they danced to American singer Pharrell Williams’ hit song “Happy”.
Last Wednesday, a defense attorney explained that six of the defendants were handed six-month jail sentences and 91 whiplashes as punishment. Additionally, the seventh defendant was given a year-long prison sentence, without any lashes. The defense then explained that the courts had suspended the sentence for the next three years, saying that if the defendants will not commit crimes of public dancing during this period, the suspended sentence won’t be carried out.
Defense lawyer Farshid Rofugaran, speaking earlier to an Israeli blog, said that he did not receive an official notification, and that the defendants are yet to decide if they will appeal the sentence.
“We can accept the verdict or appeal. I will do what my clients want me to do. We are happy that both the prison sentences and the lashes are suspended”, Rofugaran said.
State officials claim that the video was a “vulgar” breach of the country’s values. The video was uploaded in April, but became very popular online later. According to Tehran Police Chief Hossein Sajedinia, the people involved in making the video have been accused of “hurting” the strict moral codes of the Islamic Republic.
Pharrell Williams took to Facebook and Twitter after the arrest, saying, “It’s beyond sad these kids were arrested for trying to spread happiness”.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, considered by many as fairly moderate, sent a message of support on Wednesday, tweeting “Happiness is our people’s right. We shouldn’t be too hard on behaviors caused by joy”.
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