Iranian Court Sentences Singer to 74 Lashes Over Hijab-Free Performance

Iranian Singer Punished Over Viral Performance

An Iranian court has sentenced 29-year-old singer Parastoo Ahmadi to 74 lashes after she performed publicly without wearing a hijab, according to reports from The New York Times. The verdict was issued during a closed-door trial in Iran's Qom Province last week.

Ahmadi and eight colleagues also received a two-year ban on performing and leaving the country. Reports indicate that two of those sentenced were outside Iran when the ruling was issued.

Authorities Cite "Immoral Content"

The court accused the group of producing and publishing what it described as "vulgar and immoral content" on online platforms, claiming the performance violated public morality.

The case centers on a concert video released in December 2024, in which Ahmadi appeared without a hijab while wearing a black sleeveless dress that exposed her hair, arms, and shoulders. During the performance, she sang traditional Iranian folk songs. The video attracted more than three million views on YouTube.

"Singing for the land I deeply love was a right I could not ignore," Ahmadi wrote alongside the video.

Following the video's release, Ahmadi, a pianist, and two guitarists were briefly detained before being released. Iranian authorities later formally prosecuted the group.

Human Rights Groups Raise Concerns

Human rights organizations say the sentence signals a renewed crackdown on women and civil liberties in Iran. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR), called the punishment "inhumane and degrading," warning it could indicate increasing restrictions on women under Iran's current leadership.

The timing has also drawn attention following recent regional tensions, with rights advocates expressing concern that authorities may be expanding internal repression.

Background

The case comes just a few years after the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who died after being detained by Iran's morality police over alleged hijab violations. Her death sparked nationwide anti-government protests in which hundreds of people were reportedly killed and thousands arrested during the government's crackdown.

While enforcement of mandatory hijab rules had eased in some areas after the protests, Iranian authorities have continued to prosecute women accused of violating dress-code laws. It remains unclear when Ahmadi's sentence of 74 lashes will be carried out.