Six Iranians were arrested in 2014 for filming themselves dancing to Pharrell Williams’ “Happy”

Iran’s authorities have arrested three young women who posted their dance videos on Instagram.

The Young Journalists Club site said the “Instagram Dancers” were detained on Tuesday. They will be tried in a Revolutionary Court in Tehran, with the hardline judge Mohammed Moqisseh presiding.

YJC did not name the dancers but they have been identified on social media as Sahra Afsharian — whose “shuffle dancing” has brought her more than 95,000 Instagram followers — Sara Shariatmadari, and Niloufar Moti’ei.

The Iranian regime forbids dancing in public. While images of dancing on social media is not covered by the provision, they have been labelled as “disgraceful” posts which are being encouraged by the “enemy”.

Claimed videos of Afsharian dancing:

Last year Iranian authorities reportedly forced 18-year-old Maedeh Hojabri to “confess” on State TV to the “crime” of posting her Instagram dance video. And in 2014, six young Iranians were arrested and released after “confessing” over their dances to Pharrell Williams’ “Happy”, part of a global Internet celebration.

Iran Daily, July 10, 2018: Dancing Girl Forced to “Confess” on State TV
Iran, May 21, 2014: Arrested — The Crime? Dancing to Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” on YouTube

Radio Farda also notes that popular singer Mohsen Lorestani is being tried for “corruption on earth”, which can carry the death penalty, with Judge Moqisseh presiding.

Lorestani’s attorney Kazem Hosseini said three other people have been arrested in the case.

Lorestani is famed for his interpretation of traditional songs from Lorestan in western Iran.

“Three others related to Mr. Lorestani’s case have also been arrested,” the singer’s said.

LGBTQ rights activists say Lorestani has been detained because he is gay.