A reporter asked Jeff Rathke, US State Dept. Press Officer have you seen that a group of young people who did a video of themselves dancing to the “Happy” song have been sentenced up to one year in jail and 91 lashes? Wouldn’t the United States have any reaction to this pretty severe sentence?
MR. Rathke responded: We are aware of the reports that sentences were handed down in this case – Iranian youth who were arrested for making a video of themselves.
We’ve followed this closely and with great concern. The reported punishments are, in our view, an unacceptable response to the exercise of freedom of expression by the participants in the video. We would urge the Iranian Government to respect human rights … as well as its international obligations and commitments.