- Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi was sentenced to 74 lashes and a two-year ban on travel and artistic work for performing without a hijab.
- The ruling follows a viral online concert authorities labeled as "vulgar" for violating strict dress codes and public decency laws.
- Eight members of Ahmadi’s production team also received penalties for participating in the livestreamed performance recorded at a historic site.
- The case highlights ongoing state crackdowns against artists who utilize digital platforms to express social and political dissent.
Tehran: Iranian singer and filmmaker Parastoo Ahmadi has been sentenced to 74 lashes, along with a two-year travel ban and a two-year prohibition on artistic activities, following a controversial online concert in which she performed without wearing a hijab.
The verdict was issued by a criminal court in Iran’s Qom province and also applies to eight members of Ahmadi’s production team, including accompanying musicians. The case stems from a virtual concert recorded in December 2024 at the historic Deir-e Gachin Caravanserai.
According to reports, the performance was livestreamed and later uploaded to YouTube, where it circulated widely across social media platforms and garnered millions of views. Authorities allege that the content violated Iran’s strict laws governing women’s dress codes and public performances, describing it as “vulgar and immoral content” that offended public decency.
In addition to corporal punishment, the court has imposed a two-year ban on Ahmadi from leaving the country and a two-year restriction on engaging in any artistic activities. Similar penalties have been imposed on members of her production team. While the ruling has not yet been formally published by the judiciary’s official news agency, legal sources and rights groups report having reviewed the court documents and say the case reflects a broader pattern of action against artists.
Details of the Performance
The case centers on a 27-minute concert staged without a physical audience, which Ahmadi described as being performed for an “imaginary audience.” In the video, she appeared with uncovered hair, dressed in black, and performed alongside four male musicians.
During the concert, Ahmadi delivered a message emphasizing her commitment to artistic expression and her connection to her homeland. She stated:
“I am Parastoo, a girl who cannot stay silent and refuses to stop singing for the people she loves. This is my right, one I will never surrender. I sing for this land I adore, for the soil of my homeland.”
The performance included the patriotic song Az Khoone Javanane Vatan (“From the Blood of the Youth of the Homeland”), which later went viral online.
Following the release of the video, Ahmadi and several collaborators were reportedly detained for questioning before being released. A formal legal case was subsequently filed over the publication of the video, leading to the recent sentencing.
Background and Rising Profile
Born in 1997, Ahmadi initially studied film directing before transitioning into music. She became known for performing traditional and patriotic songs, gradually building a following both within Iran and internationally.
Her profile rose significantly during the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, which followed the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody. During that period, footage of Ahmadi performing patriotic music circulated widely online and became associated with protest activity.
Wider Context
Ahmadi’s sentencing highlights ongoing tensions between artistic expression and state-imposed cultural restrictions in Iran. In recent years, artists—particularly women—have increasingly used digital platforms to share their work, often challenging official regulations regarding dress codes and public performances.
The case has drawn attention from observers who view it as part of a broader pattern of legal action against cultural figures whose work intersects with social and political movements.
