Iranian folk singer Parastoo Ahmadi is reportedly sentenced to 74 lashes for singing in public without wearing a hijab. Multiple outlets say the punishment follows a livestream performance posted online, described as a YouTube or online concert, in which Ahmadi sang a song. Reports indicate the case is tied to enforcement of Iran’s compulsory hijab rules for women, and several sources frame it as part of broader controls over artistic and public conduct.
One outlet (NDTV) reports additional penalties alongside the lash sentence, including a two-year ban on leaving the country and a two-year restriction on participating in artistic activities. Another outlet says Ahmadi and a group of other musicians were punished, with references to other artists receiving the same number of lashes.
Details such as whether Ahmadi received the sentence alone or together with other performers vary by account, but sources broadly agree on the core elements: a livestream singing appearance without hijab, a court decision in Iran’s Qom province, and a 74-lash sentence, which has prompted criticism and concern from human rights groups and others.
