Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi sentenced to 74 lashes and travel ban

Iranian singer and filmmaker Parastoo Ahmadi, 29, was sentenced by a Qom court to 74 lashes, a two‑year ban on leaving Iran and a prohibition on performing artistic activities. The punishment stems from a December 2024 live‑streamed concert in which she performed without a hijab, a violation of Iran’s mandatory dress code for women. The court also imposed penalties on eight musicians and production staff involved in the event, classifying the broadcast as immoral under Iranian law.

Human‑rights groups, including the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, condemned the sentence as a violation of freedom of expression. The case has drawn international attention, highlighting ongoing restrictions on women’s cultural participation in Iran.