RismadarVoice Reporters
September 29, 2026
An Iranian appeals court has upheld a sentence of 74 lashes against singer Parastoo Ahmadi over a performance in which she appeared without the country’s mandatory hijab, according to her lawyers.
Ahmadi, 29, performed in a sleeveless dress during a concert livestreamed online in December 2024, attracting millions of views and prompting legal action by Iranian authorities.
Iranian law requires women to observe compulsory dress rules, including covering their hair in public, and restricts solo public performances by female singers before mixed-gender audiences.
In June, a criminal court in Qom convicted Ahmadi and eight members of her band and production team of offences linked to the concert.
They were sentenced to 74 lashes, alongside a two-year prohibition on audiovisual activities and a two-year travel restriction.
Ahmadi’s lawyers said an appeals court rejected their challenge on Friday without holding a hearing.
One of her lawyers argued that staging the concert should not have constituted a criminal offence and criticised the severity of the punishment.
The sentence has drawn criticism from musicians and human rights organisations.
Iranian singer Googoosh expressed support for Ahmadi and called for women to have greater freedom over how they live and dress, while musician Hossein Alizadeh said he was willing to receive the lashes in her place.
Amnesty International has condemned judicial flogging as cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
The case comes amid continuing tensions over Iran’s compulsory hijab laws following nationwide protests triggered by the September 2022 death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
Since then, some Iranian women have continued appearing in public without head coverings, while authorities have taken various enforcement measures against violations of the dress code.
