An Iranian appeals court has upheld a 74-lash flogging sentence and a two-year artistic ban against singer Parastoo Ahmadi, who was convicted alongside eight members of her band and production team following a YouTube concert performance without a mandatory hijab in December 2024.
The Legal Battle and Upheld Conviction for a YouTube Performance
The legal proceedings against the 29-year-old performer intensified after a livestreamed concert video on her YouTube channel drew millions of views. State authorities took swift issue with her appearance, in which she wore a sleeveless dress while singing, stating that the broadcast ran in violation of the country’s legal and cultural regulations.
In June, a criminal court located in Qom delivered its initial guilty verdict against Ahmadi, alongside eight individuals from her musical band and production crew. The tribunal convicted the defendants on charges including offending public decency through the dissemination of obscene and indecent material. Beyond the 74-lash physical punishment, the court barred all defendants from participating in audiovisual activities and prohibited them from leaving Iran for a duration of two years.
Defense lawyers sought relief from a higher court, but an Iranian court rejected Parastoo Ahmadi’s appeal without granting a hearing. Legal counsel for the defense expressed frustration over the judiciary’s refusal to review the matter in a proper courtroom session, noting that the trial court opted for severe penalties when lighter fines and lesser punishments were readily available under local statutes.
The Court of Appeal, despite having the option of holding a hearing, did not hold a hearing and upheld the judgment. It appears that the main reason for issuing this judgment was to deter the recurrence of similar events.
Defense lawyer, via BBC
Statutory Frameworks Governing Artistic Expression
Iranian prosecutors built their case upon specific articles within the nation’s legal codes that target digital publications and public standards. Under Article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code, authorities can criminally penalize individuals who perform open religious taboos or engage in acts that offend public morality, such as appearing uncovered in public. Article 743 criminalizes the promotion or encouragement of corruption, prostitution, or digital network behavior deemed contrary to public standards.
These actions form part of a broader regulatory push across Iranian cultural spaces. Authorities recently opened a separate criminal investigation involving a theatrical production company after a recorded stage performance of the drama Tehran Paris Tehran featured actors Fatemeh Masoudifar and Mehrdad Sedighian playing brother and sister. Although the theater company argued that misleading camera angles created a false impression of physical contact, prosecutors pursued the case under the banner of upholding social norms.
Public Outcry and Historical Precedents of Flogging Sentences
The confirmation of the sentence has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organizations and notable artistic figures. Amnesty International issued warnings stating that flogging constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, pointing out that such measures violate absolute prohibitions against torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Prominent cultural figures also voiced solidarity on social media, with exiled singer Googoosh writing on Instagram expressing a wish for women [to] regain the freedom to choose how they live and dress, while musician Hossein Alizadeh publicly stated he was willing to take 70 lashes in Parastoo Ahmadi’s place.
The penalty mirrors past enforcement actions taken by the Iranian judiciary. In January 2024, Kurdish-Iranian activist Roya Heshmati received 74 lashes after being convicted of violating public morals
over a digital photograph showing her without a headscarf. According to human rights monitors, such rulings highlight the strict enforcement of Sharia-based laws requiring all women and girls past puberty to cover their hair and wear loose garments.
Broader Enforcement Pressures Amid Regional Conflict
The legal pressure on artists and citizens occurs against a backdrop of wider societal friction following nationwide demonstrations that erupted after the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini. While countless women continue to walk public streets without headscarving in open defiance of the rules, the state has relied on periodic sweeps, business closures, and legal threats to enforce compliance.
Government officials have openly discussed the limitations and priorities governing these enforcement campaigns. Speaking on hijab enforcement, conservative politician and Expediency Council member Gholamali Haddad-Adel noted that the ongoing regional conflict involving the United States and Israel means authorities cannot engage on this front as much as we should for the time being.