Iran Sentences Singer Parastoo Ahmadi and Bandmates to 74 Lashes
Iran has imposed a harsh punishment on singer Parastoo Ahmadi, along with seven of her band members, sentencing them to 74 lashes. This comes after their live-streamed performance on YouTube in December 2024, as reported by both her videographer and local news sources.
During the livestream, the 29-year-old Ahmadi sang traditional folk songs from a dimly lit stage in a historic caravanserai, leaving her head, arms, and shoulders uncovered, which directly defied Iranian Islamic laws.
The performance quickly gained attention online, and only two days later, Iranian authorities detained the artists. This sparked public outrage, leading to Ahmadi’s temporary release the following day as the legal proceedings began.
At a closed court session in June, Ahmadi and her collaborators received their sentences, which included both the lashes and a two-year ban from performance and international travel. A family source, speaking under anonymity due to safety concerns, confirmed this to The New York Times.
“This sentence is not just inhumane but sends a worrying message that the regime may intensify its repression of women,” noted Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, based in Norway.
Videographer Tahmineh Monzavi shared on Instagram, “Two years banned from artistic activities, banned from leaving the country, and 74 lashes for all of us.”
Back in 2022, the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in custody of the Iranian morality police ignited widespread protests. These demonstrations were met with violent crackdowns, resulting in around 500 fatalities, including many innocent bystanders and 68 children. The “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement saw many Iranians openly oppose hijab laws, coinciding with a slight softening of state violence, according to a U.N. report.
However, instances of punishments, such as whipping women for hijab violations, have continued, as reported by The New York Times.
Ahmadi performed her “Caravanserai Concert” wearing a simple black dress, singing songs that expressed her patriotism and love for her country.
In the video, she stated, “I am Parastoo, a girl who wants to sing for the people I love. This is a right I could not ignore; singing for the land I love passionately.”
As of now, it’s unclear when the authorities will execute the lashings for Ahmadi and her co-defendants, according to The New York Times.
