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Iranian Pharrell Williams fans behind Happy video sentenced Iranian Pharrell Williams fans behind Happy video sentenced
(35 minutes later)
Seven young Iranians featured dancing to Pharrell Williams's hit song Happy in a video that went viral on the internet have been given suspended sentences of jail time and lashes. Seven Iranians featured dancing to Pharrell Williams's hit song Happy in a video that went viral on the internet have been given suspended sentences of jail time and lashes.
Recorded on a smartphone and uploaded multiple times on YouTube, the clip showed three unveiled girls dancing and singing to the song in a room, on rooftops and in secluded alleys with three young men. The clip, recorded on a smartphone and uploaded multiple times on YouTube, shows three unveiled girls dancing and singing to the song in a room, on rooftops and in alleys with three young men.
For the defendants, the homemade video now watched more than a million times was merely an "excuse to be happy", but for the authorities it was "vulgar" breach of the Islamic republic's values. For the defendants, the homemade video was merely an "excuse to be happy", but for the authorities it was "vulgar" breach of the Islamic republic's values. The video has had more than 1m views.
The seven were arrested in May and released on bail after appearing on state television and expressing remorse for appearing in the clip.The seven were arrested in May and released on bail after appearing on state television and expressing remorse for appearing in the clip.
Their arrest sparked international fury and criticism in the media and online, with many Iranians expressing shock and some observers questioning whether it was a "crime to be happy in Iran". Their arrest triggered international fury and criticism in the media and online, with many Iranians expressing shock and some observers questioning whether it was a crime to be happy in Iran.
During their trial, they were found guilty of "the illegal distribution of a film" and "illicit relations", their lawyer Farshid Rofougaran said. During their trial, the men were found guilty of the illegal distribution of a film and illicit relations, their lawyer Farshid Rofougaran said.
One female dancer was sentenced to a year in prison and 91 lashes for posting the footage online, while the five other dancers and the clip's director were sentenced to six-month terms and 91 lashes. One female dancer was sentenced to a year in prison and 91 lashes for posting the footage online, while the five other dancers and the clip's director were sentenced to six-months and 91 lashes. All of the sentences were suspended for three years.
All of the sentences handed down to the seven were suspended for three years. Rofougaran said he did not know whether his clients wished to appeal against the sentence.
Rofougaran said he did not know whether his clients wished to appeal against the sentence, which was notified to him orally by a Tehran court. Human rights groups denounced the ruling. "With these sentences, the absurd meets the unjust," Amnesty International said. If confirmed, the sentences "would be a ludicrous outcome; these individuals will have been convicted and branded criminals purely for making a music video celebrating happiness", it added.
Human rights groups denounced the ruling. The arrest of the seven had been denounced on social media, access to which the authorities in Iran try to block.
"With these sentences, the absurd meets the unjust," Amnesty International said in a statement. In May, President Hassan Rouhani, said in a statement on a Twitter account associated with his office: "Happiness is our people's right. We shouldn't be too hard on behaviours caused by joy."
It said that if confirmed, the sentences "would be a ludicrous outcome; these individuals will have been convicted and branded criminals purely for making a music video celebrating happiness".
The arrest of the seven had been denounced on online social networks, access to which the authorities in Iran try to block.
But President Hassan Rouhani himself, in a statement on a Twitter account associated with his office in May, said: "Happiness is our people's right. We shouldn't be too hard on behaviours caused by joy."