Teenage Girl Arrested for Posting Dance Videos on Instagram

A young teenage girl has been arrested in Iran for posting dancing videos of herself on Instagram.

Maedeh Hojabri was one of the Instagram users who has been arrested. Her account also has been suspended that had over 600,000 followers.

Hojabri and the others who were arrested then appeared on a TV program where they were forced to make the confession.

The Iranian State TV showed a young woman whose face was blurred and she was crying. She said,  “It wasn’t for attracting attention. I had some followers and these videos were for them. I did not have any intention to encourage others doing the same … I didn’t work with a team, I received no training. I only do gymnastics.”

Since her arrest, many people have come in her support, shared her videos and made similar videos to show solidarity with Hojabri.

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Hossein Ronaghi, a blogger, said: “People would laugh at you if you tell anyone in the world that [in Iran] they arrest 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds for dancing, being happy and being beautiful, for spreading indecency, and instead pedophiles are free.”

“More & More Iranian women’s are dancing in support of Maedeh Hojabri. #MaedehHojabri‘s crime was she uploaded her dance videos on Instagram.”

“People in Iran & across the world are posting videos of themselves dancing to stand in solidarity w/ 17 yr old Maedeh Hojabri who was arrested by Iran’s security forces for sharing videos of herself dancing at home”

“Arresting a 19-year-old girl for dancing & uploading her videos on Instagram and then forcing her to confess her “crime” on TV. Yet another disgraceful act by #Iran‘s judiciary & every single individual involved. A horrendous display of intolerance. For shame. #MaedehHojabri”