Iranians Arrested for 'Happy' Tribute Video Reportedly Released

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A screenshot from the Iranian 'Happy' video that resulted in the arrests of at least six people.

Video: YouTube, Pooya Jahandar

By Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai2014-05-21 14:48:18 UTC

A group of Iranians who were arrested on Monday for posting a YouTube video that shows them dancing to Pharrell Williams' "Happy" have reportedly been released by authorities. Details remain unclear, including whether all six of those arrested — three men and three women not wearing hijabs in the video — were released.

Several sources inside Iran posted about the release on Wednesday. Hoda Rostami, an Iranian photographer, posted about it on her Facebook page. Siavash Taravati posted on Facebook that her sister Reihane Taravati, the video's art director, was freed on bail. Other Iranians confirmed the report on Twitter.

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Iran authorities arrested the three men and three women who took part in the amateur YouTube video of "Happy," which was recorded in an apartment and on a building rooftop in Tehran, Iran. The women can be seen without hijabs; not wearing the head covering is illegal in the country.

After the reported release, President Hassan Rouhani tweeted a quote about happiness, presumably in response to the news. According to observers, the incident underscores the internal tension within the country. Rouhani and his government, who seem to be pushing for more freedoms of speech and online, are often at odds with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and so-called religious hardliners.

Their arrest, just like the original video, spread quickly worldwide, sparking a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #FreeHappyIranians. Even Pharrell joined the chorus, condemning the arrest on social media.

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Topics: freedom of speech, Internet freedom, iran, US & World, World, YouTube