Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi has reportedly been sentenced to 74 lashes for performing without a hijab during a livestreamed concert that attracted widespread attention online.
According to court documents reviewed by rights advocates and lawyers, a criminal court in Iran’s Qom province sentenced Ahmadi and eight members of her production team to flogging. The court also imposed a two-year ban on leaving the country and prohibited them from engaging in artistic activities for two years.
The case stems from a December 2024 performance streamed on Ahmadi’s YouTube channel, where the 29-year-old singer appeared without Iran’s mandatory Islamic head covering while performing the patriotic song Az Khoone Javanane Vatan (From the Blood of the Youth of the Homeland).
Authorities accused Ahmadi and her collaborators of offending public decency through the production and publication of what the court described as “vulgar and immoral content” online.
The performance quickly went viral, drawing millions of views and sparking debate across social media. Authorities later detained Ahmadi and several musicians involved in the concert before releasing them. Prosecutors subsequently opened a formal case over the publication of the video.
Although Iran’s judiciary has yet to officially publish details of the ruling, human rights groups and lawyers familiar with the court documents have confirmed the reported sentence.
Reacting to the development, Bahar Ghandehari, director of advocacy at the Center for Human Rights in Iran, described the punishment as a reminder of the country’s continuing restrictions on freedom of expression.
“Ahmadi’s punishment of 74 lashes for merely singing and appearing without a hijab is yet another reminder that human rights conditions in Iran have not changed,” Ghandehari said.
Human rights lawyer Moein Khazaeli also questioned the legal basis for the ruling, arguing that singing and producing music are not criminal offences under Iranian law and should not be classified as obscene content.
The case has renewed international attention on the treatment of female artists in Iran, where women face strict dress regulations and restrictions on public performances. Female singers have long encountered limitations on performing solo before mixed-gender audiences, while artists who challenge state-imposed rules often face legal consequences.
Iranian-British actress Nazanin Boniadi condemned the sentence, saying it demonstrated that repression against women and artists remains entrenched despite repeated calls for reform.
For many observers, Ahmadi’s case has become the latest symbol of the ongoing struggle over women’s rights, artistic freedom and freedom of expression in Iran.