Iran sentences singer Parastoo Ahmadi to 74 lashes and travel ban

Iranian authorities sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight members of her production team to 74 lashes each and imposed a two‑year ban on travel and public performance. The punishment follows Ahmadi’s December 2024 live‑streamed concert on YouTube, performed without a hijab, which attracted roughly 3 million views. A criminal court in the conservative Qom province ruled that the performance violated public decency rules, describing it as "vulgar and immoral."

Human‑rights groups condemned the verdict, saying it reflects a broader crackdown on women’s artistic expression in Iran. Similar punishments have been handed to other Iranian singers for defying dress codes. Ahmadi’s case underscores the state’s willingness to use corporal punishment to enforce compulsory veiling and suppress dissenting cultural voices.