An Iranian appeals court has upheld a sentence of 74 lashes against singer Parastoo Ahmadi over a concert she performed without wearing a hijab.
Ahmadi, 29, came under legal scrutiny after broadcasting the performance on her YouTube channel in December 2024. She appeared in a sleeveless dress while singing with her band.
The performance quickly gained widespread attention online, attracting millions of views and prompting Iranian authorities to investigate the singer, her band members and production crew.
Iranian law requires women to cover their hair and observe prescribed dress rules in public. Women are also restricted from giving solo public musical performances.
A criminal court in Qom later convicted Ahmadi and eight people linked to the production of the concert.
The court accused them of offences including violating public decency through the distribution of material it considered indecent.
In June, the court imposed 74 lashes on those convicted. Ahmadi was also handed a two-year prohibition from audiovisual activities and a two-year travel ban.
Her lawyers appealed the ruling, arguing that the concert did not constitute a criminal offence.
However, the appeals court rejected the challenge on Friday without holding a hearing, according to Ahmadi’s legal team.
One of her lawyers said the court could have summoned the defendants and heard their arguments before reaching a decision.
Instead, the court maintained the original sentence, a decision the lawyer said could discourage other artists from staging similar performances.
The punishment has also attracted condemnation from human rights organisations. Amnesty International described flogging as a cruel and degrading form of punishment.
Ahmadi’s case comes against the backdrop of continuing tensions over Iran’s compulsory hijab rules.
The issue became a major source of public protest following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in custody after she was detained over alleged violations of Iran’s dress code.
Although Iran later abolished its morality police, restrictions on women’s clothing remain in place. At the same time, increasing numbers of Iranian women have continued appearing in public without head coverings despite the authorities’ rules.