Iran court upholds lashes sentence for singer who performed without hijab
Parastoo Ahmadi was convicted of "offending public decency" after singing while wearing a sleeveless dress during a livestreamed concert.
An appeals court in Iran has confirmed a sentence of 74 lashes handed to a prominent singer who performed without the mandatory hijab, lawyers say.
Parastoo Ahmadi sang while wearing a sleeveless dress during a concert livestreamed on her YouTube channel in December 2024, external. Iran's laws ban public performances by women and require them to wear headscarves and modest clothing.
Iran's judiciary launched proceedings against the 29-year-old after the video went viral, gaining millions of views, saying the performance was "in violation of the country's legal and cultural regulations".
Musician Hossein Alizadeh meanwhile said he was "willing to take 70 lashes in Parastoo Ahmadi's place".