Iran Appeals Court Upholds 74 Lashes for Singer Parastoo Ahmadi
An Iranian appeals court has confirmed a punishment of 74 lashes for the well-known singer Parastoo Ahmadi, her legal representatives have said. The penalty was handed down because she gave a performance without wearing the compulsory hijab.
Ahmadi, who is 29 years old, appeared in a sleeveless dress during a concert that was streamed live on her YouTube channel in December 2024. The footage circulated widely online and drew millions of viewers, after which Iranian authorities initiated legal action against her.
Under Iranian law, women are required to cover their hair and dress modestly when in public, and public performances by female artists are not permitted. The country's judiciary described the concert as being "in violation of the country's legal and cultural regulations".
In June, a criminal court in Qom found Ahmadi guilty alongside eight members of her band and production team. The offences included "offending public decency" through the publication of "obscene and indecent material".
The group received sentences of 74 lashes each, a two-year prohibition on audiovisual work, and a two-year restriction on travel. According to their lawyers, a higher court dismissed their appeal on Friday without conducting a hearing.
"In our view, holding the concert was not a crime at all," one of the lawyers told the BBC. The lawyer added that the trial court had chosen one of the most severe penalties available for such charges, even though fines and lighter punishments could have been applied.
The lawyer also said: "The Court of Appeal, despite having the option of holding a hearing, did not hold a hearing and upheld the judgment. It appears that the main reason for issuing this judgment was to deter the recurrence of similar events."
The initial ruling drew broad condemnation from Iranian musicians and human rights organisations. Googoosh, a singer living in exile, posted on Instagram: "May these dark days come to an end, and may women regain the freedom to choose how they live and dress, and may artistic expression once again flourish in our precious homeland."
Another musician, Hossein Alizadeh, also spoke out against the sentence, saying he was "willing to take 70 lashes in Parastoo Ahmadi's place".
Amnesty International criticised the punishment, stating: "flogging constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and violates the absolute prohibition on torture and other ill treatment".
The case has unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing disputes over Iran's mandatory hijab regulations, which became a central issue in nationwide demonstrations after the 2022 death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Since that time, numerous Iranian women have been seen in public without head coverings in defiance of the dress code, while authorities have responded with arrests, warnings and other measures.
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