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Iran Punishes 'Happy' Dancers

Group sentenced to jail time for making ode to Pharrell's hit single.

The Iranian court system isn’t too “Happy” with a group of fans made a video ode to Pharrell’s hit single. Six men and women were sentenced to jail time and 91 lashes Thursday (Sept. 1) for making the video back in May, IranWire reports.

One among the bunch received a yearlong suspended sentence while the others were given six months. The sentences will be in place for three years. “A suspended sentence becomes null and void after a certain period of time,” explained lawyer Farshid Rofugaran, who is representing the six. “When it’s a suspended sentence, the verdict is not carried out, but if during this period a similar offense is committed, then the accused is subject to legal punishment and the suspended sentence will then be carried out as well.”

Rofugaran is unsure if the group will appeal. “I will do what my clients want me to do. We are happy that both the prison sentences and the lashes are suspended.”

Authorities arrested the collective because their “Happy” clip, which wracked up over 100,000 views online, featured women without veils and dancing between the sexes, acts that are considered indecent in the lslamic country. They were made to apologize on television and released on bail. 

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(Photo: SOL Productions/Pooya Jahandar via YouTube.com)

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