A military court in Moscow convicted a Russian playwright and a theatre director for “justifying terrorism” in a play about Isis brides and sentenced them to six years in prison each.

Svetlana Petrichuk and Yevgenia Berkovich were sentenced for producing a play called The Brave Falcon Finist that is inspired by Russian women who went to Syria in the mid-2010s to marry fighters of the terror group.

Petrichuk, 44, and Berkovich, 39, intend to appeal their conviction.

Their trial, which was partially held behind closed doors, has raised concerns about artistic freedom in the country.