Pharrell Williams’ video “Happy” by six Iranian students
Iran — Six students who were arrested in Iran for dancing in a YouTube video to Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy” have been freed, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.
They were released after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted, “Happiness is our people’s right. We shouldn’t be too hard on behaviors caused by joy.”
One of the six students announced that she was freed. “Hi I’m back,” Reihane Taravati wrote on her Instagram account, thanking Williams and “everyone who cared about us.”
Tehran Police Chief Hossein Sajedinia, ordered the six arrested because they made an “obscene” video. He also says that women are forbidden to dance in public.
Pharrell Williams wrote on his Facebook page, “It is beyond sad that these kids were arrested for trying to spread happiness.”
A storm of outrage filled social media pages following the arrests.
One person tweeted, “No one can be happy as long as they are living in Iran.”
According to documents released by Police Chief Sajedinia, he forced the student to repent on state TV, and has forbidden them to speak with American media outlets. Sajedinia wrote, “It is not over.”