Iran Court Confirms Sentence of 74 Lashes for Singer Over Hijab-Free Performance

An appeals court in Iran has upheld a harsh sentence against Parastoo Ahmadi, a singer who performed without wearing the country’s mandatory hijab during a concert streamed online in December 2024. The court confirmed that Ahmadi will face 74 lashes and two years of travel and work restrictions.

The concert, known as the “Caravanserai Concert,” took place at a historic site in Qom Province and was broadcast on Ahmadi’s YouTube channel. In the video, she wore a sleeveless dress and sang without a headscarf, which violates Iran’s strict rules requiring women to cover their hair and dress modestly in public.

Authorities charged Ahmadi and eight other musicians and crew members with “offending public decency” by producing and sharing what they described as indecent content online. The court ruling also bans those involved from leaving Iran or taking part in artistic activities for two years.

The appeals court rejected the defendants’ appeal without holding a hearing, leaving the original sentence in place. Their lawyers argued that the concert was not a crime and that the punishment was unusually severe compared to other possible penalties. However, the court cited the need to discourage similar events in the future.

This case is part of broader efforts by Iranian authorities to enforce strict dress codes and limit women’s public performances. Since 2022, many women in Iran have openly challenged hijab rules, leading to arrests and other punishments.

Human rights groups have condemned the flogging sentence, describing it as cruel and degrading treatment. Amnesty International called for the immediate cancellation of the punishment and highlighted concerns about the use of such penalties to suppress freedom of expression and women’s rights.

While the sentence has been confirmed, there is no public information on when or if the lashes will be carried out.