TEHRAN — An Iranian court has sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight members of her production team to 74 lashes after a livestreamed performance in which she appeared without a hijab, according to court documents cited by rights groups and international media reports published this month.
The ruling, reported on June 19, stems from a concert streamed online in late 2024 in which Ahmadi performed the patriotic song “Az Khoon-e Javanan-e Vatan” (“From the Blood of the Youth of the Homeland”). The performance attracted widespread attention online and prompted legal action by Iranian authorities.
According to documents reviewed by media outlets, the Criminal Court of Qom province found Ahmadi and other participants guilty of offenses related to the production and publication of what authorities described as “vulgar and immoral content” on online platforms. In addition to the flogging sentence, the court imposed a two-year travel ban and a two-year prohibition on artistic activities for those convicted, according to reports.
The case has drawn attention inside and outside Iran because women face significant restrictions on public musical performances under the country’s regulations. Ahmadi, 29, had previously gained a large online following, and the concert video was viewed millions of times after being posted on YouTube, according to media reports.
Iranian authorities have not publicly released detailed court reasoning beyond accusations that the performance violated public decency standards. Rights advocates and legal experts, however, have questioned the legal basis for the punishment. Moein Khazaeli, a lawyer cited by several media outlets, said that “singing, performing music and producing musical works by women are not criminalised” under Iranian criminal law.
Human rights organizations condemned the sentence and described it as part of a broader crackdown on artists and cultural figures. Rights groups cited by international media argued that the punishment reflects continuing restrictions on artistic expression and enforcement of Iran’s mandatory hijab rules.
The case follows years of debate in Iran over dress-code enforcement and cultural freedoms, issues that gained international attention after nationwide protests linked to the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. Iranian authorities have maintained that dress regulations and public morality laws remain in force and are subject to judicial enforcement.
As of Thursday, there was no indication that the court ruling had been overturned. Iranian state media had not publicly reported details of the judgment, while Ahmadi’s supporters and rights advocates continued to call for the sentence to be reversed.
