Singer sentenced to seventy four lashes

Parastoo Ahmadi, twenty nine, performed in a sleeveless dress during a livestreamed concert on her YouTube channel in December two thousand twenty four. Iran's laws ban public performances by women and require headscarves and modest clothing.

Court finds Ahmadi and band guilty

In June, a criminal court in Qom reportedly found Ahmadi and eight members of her band and production team guilty of charges including offending public decency through publication of obscene and indecent material.

Penalties include flogging and travel ban

In addition to seventy four lashes, Ahmadi and her team were banned from audiovisual activities and from leaving the country for two years. One lawyer said the court imposed one of the harshest punishments available.

“The trial court imposed one of the harshest punishments for these charges, although fines and less severe penalties were also available.”

Appeals court rejects challenge without hearing

On Friday, the defendants' appeal was rejected by a higher court without a hearing, according to their lawyers. The court upheld the original judgment despite having the option to hold a hearing.

Artists and activists condemn the sentence

Exiled singer Googoosh called for women to regain freedom to choose how they live and dress. Musician Hossein Alizadeh said he was willing to take seventy lashes in Ahmadi's place. Amnesty International warned flogging violates prohibitions on torture.

“flogging constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and violates the absolute prohibition on torture and other ill treatment”

Pattern of enforcement after Mahsa Amini protests

In January two thousand twenty four, Kurdish-Iranian activist Roya Heshmati was flogged seventy four times for a photo without hijab. Since Mahsa Amini's death in custody in September two thousand twenty two, many women have stopped covering their hair in defiance, prompting periodic arrests and closures.