An Iranian appeals court has upheld a sentence of 74 lashes for prominent singer Parastoo Ahmadi, who performed without the mandatory hijab during a concert livestreamed on her YouTube channel in December 2024. The ruling comes amid ongoing scrutiny of women's rights and public performances in Iran, where laws require women to wear headscarves and modest clothing.
Background
Ahmadi's performance, which featured her in a sleeveless dress, went viral, attracting millions of views. Following this, Iran's judiciary initiated proceedings against the 29-year-old singer, asserting that her performance violated the country's legal and cultural regulations. In June, a criminal court in Qom found Ahmadi, along with eight members of her band and production team, guilty of charges including "offending public decency" through the publication of "obscene and indecent material."
Sentencing Details
In addition to the flogging sentence, the defendants received a two-year ban from audiovisual activities and from leaving the country. On Friday, their appeal was rejected by a higher court without a hearing. One of Ahmadi's lawyers expressed disappointment, stating:
“"In our view, holding the concert was not a crime at all. The trial court imposed one of the harshest punishments for these charges, although fines and less severe penalties were also available."
