Iranian Singer Parastu Ahmadi’s 74 Lashes Sentence Confirmed Over YouTube Concert Controversy
October 1, Kathmandu – Iran’s appellate court has upheld the sentence of 74 lashes against renowned singer Parastu Ahmadi. Ahmadi’s lawyers claim the appellate court overturned the lower court’s ruling without holding any hearing. The 29-year-old singer performed a livestream concert on her YouTube channel in December 2024, wearing a sleeveless outfit and without a hijab. The concert video went viral, attracting millions of viewers, prompting Iran’s judiciary to take legal action against her. The judiciary deemed the performance a “violation of the country’s legal and cultural norms.”
Earlier this year, a criminal court in Qom convicted Ahmadi and eight members of her band and production team for “publishing obscene and offensive content.” Apart from the 74 lashes, Ahmadi was banned for two years from participating in any visual or audio activities and forbidden from leaving the country. One of Ahmadi’s lawyers stated, “Organizing this concert is not a crime for us. The lower court imposed the harshest sentence despite other available punishment options. The appellate court endorsed the verdict without a hearing, seemingly aiming to prevent any reconsideration.”
The sentencing has triggered strong reactions among Iranian citizens and human rights activists. Exiled singer Googoosh wrote on social media, “We hope these dark days will end. Women will gain the freedom to live and decide what to wear, and art will once again flourish in our homeland.” Senior musician Hossein Alizadeh expressed his willingness to receive 70 lashes instead of Parastu Ahmadi. Amnesty International condemned the flogging sentence as cruel, inhuman, and degrading.
Previously, in January 2024, Kurdish-Iranian activist Roya Hesamati was sentenced to 74 lashes for posting pictures without a hijab. Iranian law, based on Sharia principles, mandates that minors and adults cover their hair with a hijab and wear clothing that conceals their bodies in public. In 2022, nationwide protests erupted following the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini while in the custody of morality police. Since then, many women have deliberately violated the hijab laws by appearing without head coverings in public places. Recently, conservative leader Gholamali Haddad-Adel stated that because Iran is at war with the U.S. and Israel, officials are unable to fully focus on enforcing hijab regulations.
