Urdu Report Desk
An Iranian appeals court has upheld the 74-lash sentence against singer Parastoo Ahmadi, according to her lawyers, who said the appeal was rejected without a hearing.
The 29-year-old singer recorded a concert in December 2024 at Iran’s historic Deyr Gachin Caravanserai. There was no audience at the performance, which was later published on her YouTube channel.
Action Over Concert Without Hijab
Ahmadi performed alone without a hijab and wore a sleeveless outfit while singing several Iranian songs. After the video went viral and received millions of views, Iranian authorities initiated legal proceedings against her.
Authorities said the performance violated the country’s legal and cultural regulations. Iranian law requires women to cover their heads and wear modest clothing, while public musical performances by women are subject to restrictions.
The final verdict for Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi who held a concert without the mandatory hijab in Iran was issued today.
According to the verdict, she and eight others involved are sentenced to 74 lashes, a two-year ban on audiovisual activities, and a two-year travel ban. pic.twitter.com/0MafGXCY9m
— Ghoncheh Habibiazad | غنچه (@GhonchehAzad) September 25, 2026
74 Lashes and Additional Restrictions
Reports said a criminal court in Qom convicted Ahmadi and eight other members of her band and production team in June on several charges.
The charges included publishing “immoral and inappropriate content” and allegedly harming public chastity and morality.
The court sentenced Ahmadi to 74 lashes and imposed a two-year ban on audiovisual activities and travel outside Iran on her and the other defendants.
Lawyer Challenges Court Decision
One of Ahmadi’s lawyers said he believed that holding the concert did not constitute a crime. He said the trial court had imposed one of the harshest available punishments despite the availability of fines and less severe alternatives.
The lawyer also said the appeals court had the authority to hear the case but upheld the lower court’s decision without holding a hearing.
Artists and Rights Groups React
The sentence prompted strong reactions on Iranian social media. Iranian singer Googoosh, who lives in exile, expressed hope that women would regain the freedom to choose their lives and clothing and that art and creative expression would once again flourish in Iran.
Amnesty International also condemned the sentence, saying that flogging constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
Debate Over Iran’s Hijab Laws
Under Iranian law, adult women and girls are required to wear the hijab and loose-fitting clothing that does not reveal their body shape.
In 2022, the death of 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini while in the custody of Iran’s morality police sparked widespread protests across the country and drew international attention to women’s rights and mandatory hijab laws.
