74 Lashes For A New Iranian Siinger Who Performed Without A Hijab

Iran’s judiciary has upheld a sentence of 74 lashes against singer Parastoo Ahmadi
after rejecting an appeal by her and her team over a December 2024 concert performed without a hijab alongside male musicians.

Held at a historic site in Iran
without an audience, the concert streamed on YouTube and drew millions of views. It became a court case, resulting in penalties including flogging and two-year bans on artistic activity and travel.

The case reflects restrictions that prohibit women from singing solo before mixed audiences and require them to wear a hijab—placing their bodies and voices under state control and turning artistic expression into grounds for prosecution.

The sentences drew human rights criticism. Amnesty International called for the flogging to be halted, describing it as torture under international law.

In Iran, a song can become a court case, and a whip a means of punishing a woman who chooses to sing beyond the boundaries set by the authorities.