Iranians released after arrest for dancing in ‘Happy’ video

Six young Iranians arrested for dancing on rooftops to US singer Pharrell Williams’ hit "Happy" in a video that went viral on the internet have been released on bail, reports said last night.

“Hi I’m back,” Taravati said in a post on the Instagram website.

She was allegedly shown on state television on Tuesday night repenting for the homemade video that was posted on YouTube last month and shared widely on Facebook and Instagram.

The clip has since gone viral, and been viewed more than 265,000 times.

It's beyond sad these kids were arrested for trying to spread happiness http://t.co/XV1VAAJeYI

— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) May 21, 2014

The Iranian authorities had yet to confirm the dancers’ release on bail.

But according to sources on social media close to the youths, the clip’s director remains in custody, facing an array of charges including “deceiving” the group. The reports of their release came amid an apparent message of support for the group by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, who is China on an official visit.

“Happiness is our people’s right. We shouldn’t be too hard on behaviours caused by joy,” a Twitter account believed to be run by his close aides, @HassanRouhani, quoted the president from a speech in June 2013 shortly after his election.

Rouhani, a self-declared moderate, has long claimed to be for more social freedoms in Iran. But his push has been opposed by traditionalists and ultra conservatives that hold sway in the establishment.

The report of their arrest sparked a media frenzy and a storm on social media, with many Iranians expressing shock and some observers questioning whether it was a “crime to be happy in Iran.”

In the video, the girls are seen not properly observing the hijab, a series of rules that oblige women in Iran to cover their hair and much of their body.