Iran Sentences Singer Parastoo Ahmadi to 74 Lashes for Performing Without a Hijab

Parastoo Ahmadi by Hosseinronaghi, edit by Yann, Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication | Jihad Watch

Western feminists and pro-Islam liberal activists often argue against criticism of Islam and shield Muslim communities from debates about the misogyny embedded in certain cultural and religious practices. In their determination to combat anti-Muslim prejudice, many remain reluctant to confront the treatment of women under governments that enforce strict interpretations of Islamic law. The sentencing of Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi has once again drawn attention to the realities women face under such systems. In a case that has attracted international scrutiny, an Iranian court reportedly sentenced Ahmadi to 74 lashes, imposed a two-year travel ban, and prohibited her from engaging in artistic activities for two years after she performed without a hijab during a livestreamed concert that garnered millions of views online.

A criminal court in Iran's Qom Province issued the ruling following legal proceedings initiated after Ahmadi's widely viewed "Caravanserai Concert," which was broadcast online in late 2024. During the performance, she appeared without the country's mandatory Islamic head covering and sang the patriotic song Az Khoon-e Javanan-e Vatan, an act authorities later classified as a violation of public morality laws. According to reports, eight members of Ahmadi's production team—including musicians and technical staff—were also sentenced to 74 lashes each, along with a two-year travel ban and a two-year prohibition from artistic work. Prosecutors relied heavily on provisions of Iran's Islamic Penal Code and cybercrime legislation, accusing the group of "offending public decency" by publishing allegedly immoral content online. The verdict is reportedly subject to appeal.

The legal process began after Iran's Public Security Police detained Ahmadi and several members of her team. Although they were later released on bail pending investigation, the case proceeded through Iran's morality and security judicial system before culminating in the recent ruling. The sentence demonstrates that Iranian authorities continue to employ corporal punishment against women despite sustained international condemnation.

This system of punishing women through flogging for conduct deemed inconsistent with state-defined morality is rooted in the ideological framework established after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Since then, the Islamic Republic has fused political authority with its interpretation of Shia Islamic jurisprudence, enforcing mandatory hijab laws, restricting women's public performances, deploying morality police to monitor social behavior, and authorizing corporal punishments such as flogging.

Critics argue that these policies reflect a political and religious ideology that subordinates individual liberty—particularly the freedoms of women—to rigid religious doctrine. Under this framework, strict morality policing and corporal punishments are justified by authorities as necessary measures to preserve Islamic values and maintain social order.

Ahmadi's case is far from isolated. In 2023, Iranian authorities sentenced singer Mehdi Yarrahi to imprisonment and flogging after he released a song supporting women protesting the country's mandatory hijab laws. A year earlier, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly while visiting Tehran. According to widespread reports, Amini was physically assaulted while in custody, collapsed into a coma, and died three days later in hospital. Her death sparked nationwide demonstrations under the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom," as millions of Iranians, particularly women, challenged the enforcement of compulsory veiling.

The Iranian government responded with an extensive crackdown. Security forces arrested thousands of protesters, while courts prosecuted activists, journalists, students, and ordinary citizens who participated in demonstrations or criticized the authorities. Numerous women were fined, detained, and prosecuted for appearing in public without head coverings. Authorities also targeted actresses, journalists, athletes, and social media influencers who either violated the mandatory dress code or publicly supported anti-government protests, reinforcing the state's determination to enforce its religious and social regulations.

The latest ruling is especially notable because it comes amid speculation in some quarters that Iran's hardline social policies might eventually soften following the reported assassination of the country's second Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

The sentencing of Parastoo Ahmadi, however, sends a different message. Despite years of domestic protests, sustained international criticism, and expectations among some observers that Iran might gradually relax its social policies, the authorities continue to enforce their interpretation of Islamic law through state power. By sentencing a woman to flogging for performing without a hijab and restricting her artistic freedom, the Iranian judiciary has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining these legal and moral codes. The case has also renewed debate over the relationship between feminist principles—such as bodily autonomy, personal liberty, and equal rights—and legal systems that derive their authority from strict interpretations of Islamic jurisprudence.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)