Iranian couple given 10-year jail sentence after dancing in the street

A couple have been given a 10-year jail sentence after being filmed dancing in the streets together.

While in the UK only the most serious crimes are punishable with a decade behind bars, in Iran the rules are a bit different.

The country of Iran has been in complete disarray since the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in September last year.

Amini was previously arrested in the country for allegedly violating the rule requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab.

Since the woman died three days after her arrest, widespread protests have taken place across Iran against the regime, which has left hundreds dead.

Astiyazh Haqiqi, 21, and Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, 22, were reportedly convicted for 'promoting corruption and prostitution, colluding against national security, and propaganda against the establishment'.

The video that has gone viral online shows the couple dancing by Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Tower - a site that has been associated with protests in Iran.

But the couple deny their dance had any association to the ongoing protests in the country.

A source told the BBC the couple were arrested after they posted the video to Instagram, with them having a combined following of two million followers.

The family home of Ms. Haqiqi is said to have been raided before their arrest in November.

@AlinejadMasih/ Twitter

They have both been sentenced to ten and a half years in prison, which is a combined sentencing for all of their charges.

The Iranian couple have also been handed a two-year ban on using social media and leaving the country, according to reports.

The video of the pair dancing was uploaded to Vice World News' TikTok account and has already amassed over 840,000 views and thousands of comments from people eager to discuss the sentencing.

@lawmir.nkl/Instagram

Many were left in total shock that the couple could receive such a lengthy sentence after just dancing on the street.

One person said: "This is outrageous! Why isn't anyone helping these people."

A second added: "Terrible - I have no words."

Meanwhile, another person on Twitter had a different opinion, they said: "Their country. Their laws. Their customs. Their culture. Just as we in the USA expect respect for our sovereignty, customs, and culture, so should we respect other countries and their sovereignty, customs, and culture."