Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi has been sentenced to 74 lashes, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year prohibition from artistic activities after performing without a hijab during a YouTube livestream concert. The 29-year-old appeared in a December 2024 performance with her four-man band, wearing a sleeveless black dress and no head covering. The video, which attracted millions of views, led to her arrest before authorities filed formal charges against her.
The case comes amid stricter enforcement of Iran’s hijab laws, which prohibit women from singing solo before mixed-gender audiences and require them to wear head coverings in the presence of unrelated men. Her sentencing has intensified concerns over the use of corporal punishment in the country, with critics arguing that flogging amounts to torture and violates international human rights standards protecting human dignity.
Human rights organisations have condemned such punishments as inhuman treatment, while public figures have also reacted strongly. Iranian-British actor Nazanin Boniadi described the sentencing as evidence of ongoing repression, while Iranian actor Setareh Maleki, who was forced into exile after starring in The Seed of the Sacred Fig, said the performance had a powerful emotional impact and reflects broader cultural tensions in Iran.
Elijah Adeyemi
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