Iranian Singer Parastoo Ahmadi Sentenced to 74 Lashes for No-Hijab Performance!
Iranian Singer Parastoo Ahmadi Sentenced to 74 Lashes for No-Hijab Performance!
Iranian folk singer Parastoo Ahmadi faces 74 lashes and a travel ban for performing without a hijab. A look into the controversial sentencing and human rights concerns in Iran.
Iranian folk singer Parastoo Ahmadi has been sentenced to a shocking 74 lashes in her home country for performing without a hijab. The 29-year-old singer was also handed a two-year ban on leaving the country and engaging in any artistic activities, alongside eight members of her livestream production team who received similar sentences.
The controversial ruling stems from a December 2024 livestream event where Ahmadi performed the patriotic song “As Khoone Javane Vatan” ("From the Blood of the Youth of the Homeland") without wearing a hijab. The hijab is a common symbol of the Muslim faith and is mandatory for women in public in Iran.
Initially detained along with her production team, Ahmadi and the others were later released before the severe sentences were handed down. This incident has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights organizations worldwide.
Moein Khazaeli, a human rights lawyer, strongly criticized the decision, stating, “Singing, performing music, and producing or disseminating musical works by women are not criminalized under Iranian criminal law.” He added that such activities cannot reasonably be considered "production, distribution or publication of obscene content."
Bahar Ghandehari, director of advocacy at the US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, echoed this sentiment. Ghandehari remarked that Ahmadi's punishment is "yet another reminder that human rights conditions in Iran have not changed," despite the Iranian authorities' attempts to improve their image.
This isn't an isolated incident in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Just a few months prior, on March 5, 2025, singer Mehdi Yarrahi also faced 74 lashes, reportedly in connection with his song "Your Scarf." These cases highlight ongoing concerns about artistic freedom and women's rights in the country.
