Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi, 29, has lost her appeal against a sentence of 74 lashes for performing without a hijab in an online concert. The appeals court in Qom upheld the punishment imposed on her. Ahmadi's performance, which was streamed online in December 2024, attracted millions of views. She also faces a two-year ban on leaving Iran and participating in artistic activities.
The sentence was handed down after Ahmadi and eight other people involved in the production of the concert were convicted of offences relating to "offending public decency" through the publication of "vulgar and immoral content" online. The Criminal Court of Qom Province found them guilty. The performance featured Ahmadi singing alone, accompanied by male musicians, without wearing a hijab.
Human rights organisations have condemned the punishment, particularly the flogging sentence. They have questioned whether artistic expression should form the basis of criminal charges. Amnesty International has described flogging as "cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment". The Abdorrahman Boroumand Centre also criticised the sentence, describing flogging as a degrading and violent form of punishment.
Ahmadi's legal team challenged the ruling, but the appeal was rejected by an appeals court in Qom in September. Reports citing her lawyers said the appeal was dismissed without a hearing, leaving the original sentence in place. The ruling means the punishment is now final. However, reports have not established when or where the flogging would be carried out.
The case has attracted international attention, fuelling debate over artistic freedom and restrictions on women in Iran. Iranian law requires women to observe compulsory hijab rules in public. Women have also faced restrictions on solo public singing since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.
The performance that led to the sentence was Ahmadi's Caravanserai Concert, an audience-free show shared online in late 2024. Her appearance without a headscarf drew particular attention. The concert was uploaded to YouTube and attracted millions of views, turning Ahmadi's case into an international story about artistic expression and restrictions on women in Iran.
The latest ruling keeps Ahmadi subject to the 74-lash sentence as well as the two-year restrictions on travel and artistic activity. Her case continues to attract international attention. The restrictions also apply to the other members of her production team.
Key points
- Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi faces a 74-lash sentence for performing without a hijab.
- The sentence was upheld by an appeals court in Qom.
- Human rights organisations have condemned the punishment as cruel and degrading.
