74 whiplashes and a ban on creativity: in Iran, a singer was sentenced for an online performance without a hijab
Iranian singer Parastu Ahmadi and eight members of her creative team were sentenced to 74 whiplashes due to a concert the artist held online without a hijab at the end of 2024. According to The Guardian.
In addition to corporal punishment, the court prohibited Ahmadi and other defendants from leaving the country and engaging in creative activities for two years. At the same time, the Iranian judiciary has not yet released official details of the verdict.
According to the publication, in December 2024, the 29-year-old singer performed the patriotic song Az Khoone Javanane Vatan ("Blood of the Homeland's Youth") during an online broadcast without wearing a hijab. The recording of the performance quickly gained popularity and gathered millions of views on YouTube.
After the broadcast, law enforcement detained Ahmadi and several musicians but later released them, opening a criminal case. The singer was accused of violating public morality by creating and distributing content online that the authorities consider "indecent" and "immoral."
Human rights defenders and lawyers who reviewed the case materials believe the verdict is part of broader pressure on cultural figures who express disagreement with the policies of the Iranian authorities.
The Advocacy Director of the American Center for Human Rights in Iran, Bahar Ghandehari, stated that the punishment of 74 whiplashes for singing and appearing without a hijab indicates the persistently difficult human rights situation in the country.
Meanwhile, Iranian lawyer and human rights defender Moin Khazaeli emphasized that such a verdict lacks proper legal justification. According to him, performing and distributing music is not a criminal offense under Iranian law, and corporal punishments contradict international law and are considered cruel and inhuman treatment.
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