Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi has been sentenced to 74 lashes, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year ban on artistic activities after performing without a hijab in a YouTube concert.
Ahmadi, 29, appeared in a December 2024 livestream with her four-man band, wearing a sleeveless black dress and no head covering. The performance, which drew millions of views, led to her arrest before authorities later filed charges.
The punishment comes amid Iran’s stricter enforcement of hijab laws. Women in the country are barred from singing solo before mixed-gender audiences and are required to wear hijabs in the presence of unrelated men.
Many online supporters praised Ahmadi’s courage, with some describing her as a symbol of resistance against restrictions on women.
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