Iranian singer Parasto Ahmadi sentenced to lashes and two‑year artistic ban

A criminal court in Qom sentenced singer Parasto Ahmadi and eight members of her "Karvansara" concert to 74 lashes, a two‑year travel restriction and a two‑year prohibition from any artistic activity. The judges ruled they violated public morality by producing and publishing a video that showed Ahmadi without the compulsory hijab and with exposed parts of her body, deeming it "obscene" under Iran's penal code. The court cited the video’s wide dissemination on YouTube and social media, arguing it reached a large audience and could normalize behaviour contrary to legal norms. The verdict references articles of the Islamic Penal Code and the Computer Crimes Law, and the sentence can be appealed within the legal deadline. The historic Karvansarai site where the performance was recorded was also sealed by authorities. All nine defendants face the same penalties, and their convictions highlight the Iranian judiciary’s strict enforcement of morality‑related statutes against online content.