‘Happy’ prison sentences smack of the bad days of Nazi Germany

The imposition of savage sentences on six young people in Iran for making a video of themselves singing and dancing is another example of the regime’s horrifying attitude to human rights and freedom of expression.

After being found guilty of taking part in the videotaped performance of the popular Pharrell Williams’ song ‘Happy’, the judge sentenced five of them to six months imprisonment and 91 lashes and a sixth to a year’s imprisonment. They were deemed by the court to have “offended public chastity”.

The six were arrested in May 2014 and the evidence against them was damning: They could clearly be identified dancing and miming to the ‘Happy’ tune. Similar videos had been produced around the world and the Iranian group decided to join in the fun.