Iranian singer and other artists sentenced to 74 lashes

An Iranian court has sentenced the singer Parastoo Ahmadi and a group of seven artists to 74 lashes each for broadcasting a performance on YouTube dating back to 2024, according to reports in some local media.

They are accused of offending public decency by producing and publishing “vulgar and immoral content on the internet.” In a country where women are forbidden to sing in public and are required to dress modestly and wear a headscarf, Ahmadi appeared in the video wearing a long dress with thin straps and dark red lipstick. Among the lyrics sung by Ahmadi were references to young Iranians arrested for protesting against the authorities. According to a Telegram post by the Emtedad news agency, Ahmadi and the other participants were sentenced by the Qom Provincial Criminal Court “to 74 lashes, a two-year ban on leaving the country and a two-year ban on engaging in artistic activities”.

Ahmadi, the filmmaker Tahmineh Monzavi, the musicians and others involved in the production had been arrested for the first time in December 2024, a few days after the concert. At the time, local media reported that they had been released on bail, whilst the judiciary’s online news site, Mizan Online, reported that proceedings had been initiated against them for performing “music without complying with legal and religious regulations”.