World News
Iranian court upholds flogging sentence for singer who appeared without hijab
An appeals court affirmed 74 lashes and bans for Parastoo Ahmadi and eight production members.
The short version
- An appeals court in Iran upheld a sentence of 74 lashes for singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight crew members after she performed without a mandatory hijab.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- The penalties stem from a viral December 2024 livestreamed concert where Ahmadi wore a sleeveless dress, leading to convictions for offending public decency.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- In addition to the flogging, the group faces two-year bans on travel and audiovisual work, with legal counsel stating the appeal was rejected without a hearing.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- Rights groups including Amnesty International condemned the flogging sentence as a form of cruel punishment and torture.[BBC News · The Guardian]
Key facts
- An Iranian appeals court rejected the appeal and upheld a sentence of 74 lashes against 29-year-old singer Parastoo Ahmadi.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- Eight members of Ahmadi's band and production team received the same sentence of 74 lashes, alongside two-year bans on travel and audiovisual activities.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- The charges followed a December 2024 YouTube livestream in which Ahmadi sang in a sleeveless dress without a hijab, attracting millions of views.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- Iranian law prohibits women from performing publicly and requires them to wear modest attire and headscarves.[BBC News]
- Defense lawyers reported that the appellate court declined to convene a hearing before dismissing the appeal.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- Lawyers noted it appears the harsh sentence was primarily intended to deter similar performances, though official judicial motivations were not formally elaborated beyond norm violations.[BBC News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.