An Iranian dancer who has been living in Los Angeles has been given a 10-year suspended prison sentence in Iran on charges of corrupting the nation's youth.
Mr Mohammad Khordadian, a folklore dancer, was arrested in May when he returned home to visit his family after 23 years away.
He was released from Tehran's Evin prison yesterday and has 20 days to appeal against the sentence.
The court dealing with "moral corruption" sentenced Mr Khordadian to 10 years suspended jail term, obligatory stay in Iran for 10 years and banned him from attending parties.
"For desisting Khordadian from provocative environments which could lead him to repeat the offence, the judge banned him from leaving Iran," the paper said.
Like many other Iranian entertainers, Mr Khordadian fled Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution which led to the enforcement of strict Islamic laws, including a ban on "decadant" practices, such as dancing and Western-style music.
In Los Angeles, home to a large Iranian expatriate community, Mr Khordadian has been performing on stage and teaching dancing.
His performances are regularly broadcast to the Islamic republic via satellite televisions, making him very popular among Iranian youth. Illegal videotapes of his dance instructions are bestsellers in Iran.
"I did not know teaching dancing abroad was considered as an offence in Iran, I am regretful and want to stay in my country," Mr Khordadian had told the court in defence of himself shortly after he was arrested.