Iran court upholds lashes sentence for singer who performed without hijab

What the report says

An Iranian appeals court has upheld a sentence of 74 lashes for singer Parastoo Ahmadi, according to BBC World News. The case stems from a livestreamed concert on her YouTube channel in December 2024, during which Ahmadi performed wearing a sleeveless dress and without the mandatory hijab.

BBC reported that Iran’s judiciary opened proceedings after the video drew widespread attention online. A criminal court in Qom later found Ahmadi and eight members of her band and production team guilty of charges including offending public decency and publishing obscene or indecent material. Along with the flogging sentence, the court imposed a two-year ban on audiovisual work and travel outside Iran.

The lawyers cited by the BBC said the appeal was rejected without a hearing. They argued the concert should not have been treated as a crime and said less severe penalties were available. Ahmadi’s case has triggered criticism from musicians, activists and human rights groups, with Amnesty International again warning that flogging is a form of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.

More broadly, the case reflects Iran’s long-running restrictions on women’s public performances and dress, and the continuing tension between authorities and people challenging hijab rules. BBC noted that since the 2022 protests over Mahsa Amini’s death, many Iranian women have increasingly defied the dress code, while authorities have responded with arrests and other enforcement measures.