<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">An Iranian couple in their 20s have been given jail sentences totalling 10 years after posting a video of themselves dancing in the street.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They were reportedly convicted for promoting corruption, prostitution and propaganda.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The video showed them dancing by Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Tower.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Authorities are handing heavy sentences to people seen to be involved in protests after the death of a woman who was detained by morality police.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The couple did not link their dance to the ongoing protests in Iran.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A source has confirmed to BBC Monitoring that the couple's arrest came after they posted the video to their Instagram accounts, which have a combined following of nearly two million.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anti-government protests - labelled "riots" by Iran's regime - swept across the country after Mahsa Amini, 22, died in police custody in September last year. She was arrested in Tehran for allegedly violating the rule requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab, or headscarf.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Astiazh Haqiqi, 21, and her fiance Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, 22, are said to be convicted of "promoting corruption and prostitution, colluding against national security, and propaganda against the establishment".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The family home of Ms Haqiqi, who lists her profession as a fashion designer, was raided before the arrest.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is unclear how long the sentence is for each of the separate convictions they are facing. They have each been sentenced to a total of 10 and a half years - a combined sentence for the charges.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If their verdicts are upheld, they will have to serve the longest one of those sentencing terms.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to reports, they were also handed a two-year ban on using social media and leaving the country. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>