This Iranian Couple Has Been Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Dancing Together In Public
Astiazh Haqiqi and her fiancé, Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, were found guilty of “promoting insecurity, threatening national security and propaganda against the regime.”
An Iranian influencer couple who posted a video of them dancing together in public on Instagram has been sentenced a total of 10 years in prison for “promoting indecency, threatening national security and creating propaganda against the regime.”
The video, posted in October, shows 21-year-old Astiazh Haqiqi and her 22-year-old fiancé, Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, dancing near the Azadi (Freedom) Tower in Iran’s capital, Tehran.
The influencers, who have a total of two million followers across their various accounts, were arrested shortly after posting the video, according to a source confirmed by BBC.
Police officers reportedly entered the couple’s home violently when entering the couple’s home to arrest them on November 1, 2022, according to human rights activists’ news agency, HRANA.
On Sunday Dec. 21, a court found the two guilty of “promotion of impurity and indecency, assembly and collusion against national security, and propaganda against the regime.
They were sentenced to a total of 10 years and 6 months in prison. It is unclear how long the sentences are for each individual.
Additionally, the couple have been banned from social media and leaving the country for two years, according to HRANA.
Iranian authorities have cracked down on “riots” and protestors following nationwide demonstrations sparked by the death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini after she was detained by “morality” police.
More than 18,000 people have been arrested in the protests, which broke out in September 2022, according to rights groups.
Iran has executed at least four people in association with the protests.
At least nine other protesters are facing the death penalty, with accusations ranging from burning a trash can to killing security forces.
