After a viral video posted on social media, a young couple from Iran were jailed for over 10 years after they danced at one of Tehran’s most iconic landmarks.
Astiaj Haghighi, her fiance Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, were also prohibited from engaging in social media and banned from leaving the country for a period of two years.
After the viral video of them dancing at Azadi Tower, the two Instagram users were taken into custody.
According to the news agency Human Rights Activists, they were each sentenced to 10 years and six month imprisonments for “promotional impurity and indecency”, assembly and collusion with national security and propaganda against the regime.”
Ms Haghighi, in defiance of country’s strict rules was not wearing a head scarf in the video. Women are prohibited from dancing in public.
HRANA claimed that a source revealed to HRANA that the couple were denied a lawyer at the revolutionary court in Tehran.
Ms Haghighi was also reported to have been moved to Qarchak Prison in Varamin where campaigners regularly criticize the conditions.
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This video was interpreted as part of the movement for more freedom in Iran.
Since the September death of Mahsa , Iran has been more strict than usual with all forms of dissent.
The 22-year old was accused of violating the country’s strict Islamic dress code.
According to reports, the country’s morality unit was later shut down. Ms. Amini was detained for not covering her head properly with a scarf – she later died in custody.
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As anti-government protests spread throughout the country, activists posted photos of themselves without their headscarves and gained support from abroad.
According to the United Nations, thousands were detained in Iran during demonstrations.
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