politics
Iranian Court Sentences Singer to 74 Lashes for Public Performance Without Hijab
A criminal court in Qom province sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight production team members to 74 lashes, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year artistic activity ban. The charges stem from a 2024 YouTube livestream of a patriotic song performed without a hijab. Rights groups say the case reflects ongoing enforcement against artists who defy dress codes.
Jun 19, 4:40 PM·1m read1 source
theiranproject.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
The charges cite production and publication of what the court called vulgar and immoral content online. The sentence follows a December 2024 livestream on Ahmadi's YouTube channel in which she performed the song Az Khoone Javanane Vatan without wearing a hijab.
The video accumulated millions of views. Ahmadi and several musicians were briefly detained after the performance and later released before formal charges were filed.
Court documents reviewed by rights groups and lawyers show the pattern of cases against artists who appear publicly without a hijab. The official judiciary news agency has not yet published the ruling. Bahar Ghandehari, director of advocacy at the Center for Human Rights in Iran, said the punishment illustrates that human rights conditions have not changed despite Iranian authorities' public messaging.
Iranian authorities have continued to carry out floggings and executions related to protest activity and dress-code violations. The sentencing of Ahmadi occurred as talks involving the United States and Iran were reported to be approaching. Rights monitors state that similar prosecutions aim to deter cultural dissent.
