Iranian justice system upholds sentence against singer Parastoo Ahmadi
Iran’s judicial system has reaffirmed a restrictive sentence against singer Parastoo Ahmadi, after she was found guilty for her participation in a digital concert where she appeared without the mandatory hijab. The decision was issued by Branch 16 of the Court of Appeal of Qom province, which confirmed the charges associated with the so-called “caravanserai concert case”.
The artist will have to face a physical sentence of 74 lashes, in addition to a two-year ban on carrying out any audiovisual activity and a total restriction on leaving Iranian territory. This judicial resolution also affects the musicians and the production team who collaborated on the musical project, whose sentences were fully ratified following the rejection of the appeals filed by the defense.
Case details
The legal conflict originated at the end of 2024, when Ahmadi published a solo musical performance online. During the show, the singer did not wear the Islamic veil, a mandatory requirement under the country’s current laws, and was accompanied by male musicians. Branch 122 of the Qom Criminal Court, which issued the initial ruling in June, described the performance as a violation of moral and religious norms, labeling the content as “obscene”.
The sentence is final and mandatory as ratified by the judicial authorities of Qom province.
Parastoo Ahmadi
Defense position
The singer’s legal team attempted to appeal the measure, arguing that the performance was exclusively an artistic expression and that at no time was there any criminal intent on the part of those involved. Despite these arguments, the appellate court dismissed the claims, keeping the imposed sanctions intact.
This case reflects the stance of the Iranian authorities regarding musical performances by women, maintaining strict control over the use of traditional clothing and the regulations governing public performances before mixed audiences.
Parastoo Ahmadi’s post regarding the ratification of her sentence
