Key facts
- An appeals court in Iran upheld a sentence of 74 lashes for singer Parastoo Ahmadi.
- Ahmadi was convicted of "offending public decency" for performing without a mandatory hijab.
- She and eight band members were also banned from audiovisual activities and leaving Iran for two years.
- The appeal was rejected by a higher court without a hearing.
- Human rights groups condemn flogging as cruel and inhuman punishment.
An appeals court in Iran has confirmed a sentence of 74 lashes for prominent singer Parastoo Ahmadi, who performed without the mandatory hijab. The judiciary initiated proceedings after a video of her performance, livestreamed on her YouTube channel in December 2024, went viral. A criminal court in Qom had previously found Ahmadi and eight members of her band and production team guilty of charges including "offending public decency" through the publication of "obscene and indecent material". In addition to the lashes, they were banned from audiovisual activities and leaving the country for two years. Their lawyers stated that the appeal was rejected by a higher court on Friday without a hearing, and one lawyer noted that the trial court imposed a harsh punishment when less severe penalties were available. The lawyers believe the judgment was intended as a deterrent. The sentence has drawn criticism from other artists and human rights organizations, with Amnesty International calling flogging a cruel and inhuman punishment. Kurdish-Iranian activist Roya Heshmati was similarly flogged 74 times in January 2024 for "violating public morals". Under Iran's interpretation of Sharia law, women must cover their hair with a hijab and wear loose clothing. Nationwide protests against the hijab law occurred in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Many women have since defied the dress code, leading to arrests and other measures by authorities.