Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight members of her production team have reportedly been sentenced to 74 lashes, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year prohibition from engaging in artistic activities after a livestreamed performance in which she appeared without wearing the mandatory hijab.
Key Highlights:
- Parastoo Ahmadi and eight team members were reportedly sentenced to 74 lashes.
- They also received a two-year travel ban.
- The group was barred from artistic activities for two years.
- The case followed a viral livestream in which Ahmadi performed without a hijab.
- Human rights groups condemned the ruling as a violation of artistic freedom and women’s rights.
According to court documents cited by human rights groups and legal advocates, the verdict was delivered by a criminal court in Iran’s Qom Province. The defendants were convicted on charges linked to the production and publication of content authorities described as “vulgar and immoral” and offensive to public decency.
The case stems from a December 2024 performance streamed on YouTube, during which the 29-year-old singer performed the patriotic song Az Khoone Javanane Vatan (“From the Blood of the Youth of the Homeland”) without a hijab.
The livestream quickly went viral, attracting millions of views worldwide and reigniting international debate over artistic freedom, women’s rights, and government censorship in Iran.
Following the performance, Ahmadi and several members of her production team were reportedly detained before later being released. Authorities subsequently filed formal charges against them over the broadcast.
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Although Iranian officials have not publicly released the full judgment, human rights organisations and legal experts say the ruling reflects an ongoing pattern of legal action against artists accused of defying the country’s strict social and cultural regulations.
The sentence has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights advocates, who describe it as another example of the suppression of artistic expression and women’s rights in Iran.
Bahar Ghandehari, director at the US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, said the punishment highlights the continued human rights violations faced by artists and women in the country.
Legal experts have also questioned the basis for the ruling, arguing that Iranian law does not explicitly criminalise women singing or producing music. They further contend that corporal punishment, including flogging, violates internationally recognised human rights standards and obligations.
