Iranian singer gets 74 lashes for performing without hijab
What's the story
Parastoo Ahmadi, an Iranian singer and composer, has been sentenced to 74 lashes by a court in Qom province for performing without a hijab during a livestreamed concert. The performance, which took place in December 2024 and was later shared on her YouTube channel, reportedly went viral and has since accumulated millions of views. Along with Ahmadi, eight other members of the production team have also received the same sentence.
Concert details
Ahmadi's concert was held without an audience
Ahmadi's performance included the patriotic song Az Khoone Javanane Vatan (From The Blood of the Youth of the Homeland) and other musical pieces. The concert was held without an audience as a form of protest against restrictions on women performers in Iran. Following the livestream, she and other musicians were briefly arrested but later released. However, authorities have now reportedly opened a formal case over the video's publication.
Legal proceedings
Authorities have cited these laws
Prosecutors have reportedly cited two laws in their case against Ahmadi. The first is Article 638 of Iran's Islamic Penal Code, which prohibits "open religious taboo" behavior, such as appearing in public without a hijab. The second is Article 743 of the Computer Crimes Law, which prohibits spreading "corrupt" or "morally offensive" content through digital platforms. Notably, human rights lawyer Moein Khazaeli has argued that singing and making music are not crimes for women under Iranian law.
Global reaction
Case has drawn ire from international observers
The case has sparked widespread condemnation from both domestic and international observers. Bahar Ghandehari, director of advocacy at the US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, slammed the punishment as a sign that human rights in Iran have not improved. Nazanin Boniadi, an Iranian-British actor, echoed this sentiment and said, "[This incident] is a stark reminder that, despite talk in Washington of a 'new regime' in Iran, the Islamic Republic's machinery of repression remains unchanged."