An Iranian court has sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi and seven fellow artists to 74 lashes each after they livestreamed a concert on YouTube, according to local media and members of the production team.
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The performance, broadcast in December 2024, featured Ahmadi singing to an empty venue on a dimly lit stage decorated with a large Persian carpet inside a traditional caravanserai complex. She was accompanied by a pianist, drummer, guitarist and bassist.
YouTube Performance Draws Millions of Views
The artists were dressed in black, while Ahmadi wore a long gown and red lipstick. In Iran, women are prohibited from singing publicly and are required to follow strict dress regulations, including wearing a headscarf.
The concert was streamed on Ahmadi’s YouTube channel and has attracted around three million views. It has also been widely shared and viewed on other platforms.
Artists Face Travel and Work Bans
Videographer Tahmineh Monzavi said in an Instagram post on Thursday that those involved in the production had been sentenced to “74 lashes”, a two-year ban on artistic activities and a two-year prohibition on leaving the country.
Authorities first detained Ahmadi, Monzavi, the musicians and other members of the production team days after the concert took place in December 2024. They were later released on bail.
At the time, Iran’s judiciary-linked Mizan Online news website reported that a case had been opened over the performance for producing music without complying with what it described as legal and religious standards.
Official judicial outlets have not confirmed the latest ruling. However, Iran’s Emtedad news platform reported that Ahmadi and other participants had received sentences including lashes, travel restrictions and bans on artistic work.
Court Cites Public Decency Charges
According to Emtedad, the verdict was issued by the Criminal Court of Qom Province. The report said the defendants were accused of offending public decency by creating and publishing content deemed immoral online.
The case comes amid continuing tensions over women’s rights and dress-code enforcement in Iran. Growing numbers of women have appeared in public without a hijab since nationwide protests erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody in September 2022 after her arrest for an alleged dress-code violation.
Performance Referenced Protest Detainees
Some of the songs performed by Ahmadi contained references to young Iranians detained during anti-government protests. Among the lyrics were lines expressing longing for the homeland and comparing detained protesters to captive birds yearning for freedom.
The sentencing has drawn renewed attention to restrictions on artistic expression and the role of women performers in Iran.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 21 June 2026