Iran: Young couple sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for dancing hugging in public

Court at Iran condemned a young man pair of to 10 years and six months in prison for a video they posted of them dancing in a public place, Al Arabiya reports. Astiaz Haggigi and her fiance Amir Ahmadi are both in their 20s. After the publication of the video with dance their charged with “spreading corruption and immorality”, “assembling and conspiring to disrupt national security” and engaging in anti-regime propagandaaccording to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

It is noted that in the video, Hagigi is seen dancing without wearing her hijab, which is forbidden in Iran.

On November 1, the couple was arrested. In addition to imprisonment, they were condemned to a two-year internet ban and a two-year ban on leaving the country.

The verdict was issued by Department 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, led by Abolghasem Salavati, a notoriously harsh judgeto people who are considered a threat to the Islamic Republic.

According to the HRANA news agency, citing a img close to Haggi’s family, the couple’s legal representation during the trial was denied.

In September 2022, protests erupted over the death of 22-year-old Mahsha Amini in Iran. A few days before her death, she was arrested by the “morality police” for violating the dress code. Eyewitnesses reported that the girl was severely beaten inside a police van. A few hours later he was admitted to the hospital, where he ended up.

On November 14, a court in Iran imposed the first death sentence on a protester in Tehran. He was found guilty of arson of a government building, disturbing public order, conspiracy to commit a crime against national security and use of firearms. The accused was also declared an “enemy of God”.