Iranian singer flogged 74 times for hijab removal song
What's the story
Mehdi Yarrahi, a famous Iranian protest singer, was given 74 lashes in a deal to end a criminal case against him. The case was filed against Yarrahi for speaking out against Iran's strict dress code for women through his music. He was convicted in January 2024 for illegally releasing a protest song Your Headscarf (Roo Sarito) in September 2023. The flogging was carried out this week.
Legal proceedings
Yarrahi's sentence and bail conditions
Yarrahi was originally sentenced to a year in prison, which was subsequently converted to electronic ankle monitoring that ended in December. The return of his 15 billion toman bail, paid by a third party, depended on his public flogging. Despite denouncing this "inhuman torture," Yarrahi wrote on X: "I am ready to receive the sentence of 74 lashes, and while I condemn this inhuman torture, I make no request to cancel it."
Public reaction
'Revenge for his support for the women of Iran'
The news of Yarrahi's flogging triggered widespread outrage on Iranian social media. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi condemned the act on Instagram, writing, "The execution of Mehdi Yarrahi's flogging sentence is revenge for his support for the women of Iran." US-based human rights campaigner Masih Alinejad echoed the sentiments, saying each lash would only strengthen the resolve of Iranian women to resist oppressive norms.
Judicial statistics
Iran's record of flogging sentences in 2024
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, an Iranian NGO, at least 131 people were sentenced to a total of 9,957 lashes by the Iranian judiciary in 2024. This figure highlights the widespread use of corporal punishment in Iran's judicial system. Yarrahi's case only adds to this disturbing trend, emphasizing the dangers faced by those who challenge societal norms through their art or activism.