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Iranian Court Confirms 74-Lash Sentence for Singer Who Performed Hijab-Free
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The Court Upholds 74 Lashes for Singer Parastoo Ahmadi
An appeals court in Iran has rejected the appeal of 29-year-old singer Parastoo Ahmadi, confirming a sentence of 74 lashes, a two-year ban on all audiovisual activities, and a two-year travel restriction. The punishment stems from a livestreamed concert in which Ahmadi performed in a sleeveless dress without a hijab. The Qom Provincial Criminal Court had previously convicted Ahmadi, two musicians, and six production staff on charges of “offending public decency” and publishing “obscene and indecent material.” The higher court upheld the judgment without holding a hearing, according to Ahmadi’s lawyers.
Legal Framework and Recent Enforcement
Iran’s Islamic Penal Code criminalizes public performances by women without a hijab (Article 638) and the promotion of “corrupt” content on digital platforms (Article 743). The judiciary has applied these provisions broadly: in January 2024, Kurdish-Iranian activist Roya Heshmati received 74 lashes for a hijab-less photo, and in early February the regime threatened legal action against women who ran in Tehran’s Velayat Park in non-compliant clothing. The court’s decision reinforces a pattern of severe penalties for perceived violations of modesty norms.
Reactions from Artists and Human-Rights Groups
Ahmadi’s legal team argued that the concert was not a crime and that lesser penalties were available. Exiled singer Googoosh called for an end to “dark days” and for women’s freedom to choose their dress. Musician Hossein Alizadeh said he would willingly endure 70 lashes in Ahmadi’s place. Amnesty International warned that flogging constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, violating the absolute prohibition on torture. Kurdish rights group Hengaw reported that a female officer forced a scarf on a detainee before a male officer administered lashes, underscoring concerns about procedural abuse.
Broader Context of Hijab Enforcement in Iran
Since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who died after being detained by the morality police for an “improper” hijab, women have increasingly defied the dress code, sparking periodic waves of arrests and crackdowns. Conservative politician Gholamali Haddad-Adel, a member of the Expediency Council, linked the intensity of hijab enforcement to Iran’s ongoing war with the United States and Israel, suggesting security priorities limit the regime’s capacity to focus on dress-code policing. February 1 marks World Hijab Day, a date that highlights the international attention on Iran’s compulsory-hijab regime.