This story was last updated on May 29, 2014 at 10:06 p.m. ET.
A group of Iranians who were arrested on Monday for posting a YouTube video that shows them dancing to Pharrell Williams' "Happy" have seemingly been released by authorities. Details remain unclear, including whether all six of those arrested -- three men and three women not wearing hijabs in the video -- were released.
Several sources inside Iran posted about the release on Wednesday. Hoda Rostami, an Iranian photographer, posted about it on her Facebook page. Siavash Taravati posted on Facebook that her sister Reihane Taravati, the video's art director, was freed on bail.
Reihane Taravati posted on Instagram on Wednesday with the following caption: "Hi I'm back thank you @pharrell and everyone who cared about us love you all so much and miss you so much."
Several sources say that all have been released except for the director of the video (not the art director of the video, who is mentioned above).
All people who made the "happy" video released today,except the director of video, a source close to the families said #freehappyiranians— IranHumanRights.org (@ICHRI) May 21, 2014
All iranians in the happy video clip are free, except the director. #freehappyiranians @Pharrell— Kambiz Hosseini (@kambizhosseini) May 21, 2014
Iran authorities arrested the three men and three women who took part in the amateur YouTube video of "Happy," which was recorded in an apartment and on a building rooftop in Tehran, Iran. The women can be seen without hijabs; not wearing the head covering is illegal in the country.
After the apparent release, President Hassan Rouhani tweeted a quote about happiness, presumably in response to the news. According to observers, the incident underscores the internal tension within the country. Rouhani and his government, who seem to be pushing for more freedoms of speech and online, are often at odds with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and so-called religious hardliners.
"#Happiness is our people's right. We shouldn't be too hard on behaviors caused by joy." 29/6/2013
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) May 21, 2014
Their arrest, just like the original video, spread quickly worldwide, sparking a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #FreeHappyIranians. Even Pharrell joined the chorus, condemning the arrest on social media.
UPDATE, May 28, 10:06 a.m. ET: The director of the video, Sassan Soleimani, has reportedly been released on bail on Thursday. With his release, all the six people arrested are now free.
Sassan Soleimani, the director of one version of the ”Happy in Tehran”released on bail. #FreeHappyIranians pic.twitter.com/EcXjn6jTYS— Kambiz Hosseini (@kambizhosseini) May 29, 2014