Iran Court Upholds 74-Lash Sentence for Singer Who Performed Without Hijab
An Iranian court's decision to finalize a lashing sentence against a singer for performing without a hijab has drawn sharply different coverage, from factual reporting on the legal process to framing it as part of a wider crackdown on artistic expression.
What happened
An Iranian appeals court in Qom has upheld a sentence of 74 lashes against singer Parastoo Ahmadi, 29, for performing without a mandatory hijab during a concert livestreamed in 2024 that went viral with millions of views.123
The court convicted Ahmadi of offending public decency after she sang in a sleeveless dress; The National reports the court also found the performance involved obscene and immoral content on cyberspace platforms.56
The appeals court chief, Abbas Gharabaghi, rejected the petition, saying the evidence and arguments from Ahmadi's lawyers were insufficient, according to the BBC as cited by The National.3
Amnesty International has called on Iran to halt the punishment of Ahmadi and her production team, and rights groups have described the sentence as a form of torture.24
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
- An Iranian appeals court upheld a sentence of 74 lashes against singer Parastoo Ahmadi for performing without a hijab.123456
- Ahmadi, 29, was sentenced along with members of her production team over a concert streamed online in 2024 that went viral.23
- The case has drawn criticism from rights groups and international commentary.234
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
Characterization of the court's reasoning
Appeals court chief Abbas Gharabaghi, via The National
The evidence and arguments presented by Ahmadi's lawyers were insufficient to overturn the sentence.3
The Jerusalem Post, citing the court's finding
The performance violated public decency through the production and publication of obscene and immoral content on cyberspace platforms.6
BBC News
Ahmadi was convicted of offending public decency after singing in a sleeveless dress during a livestreamed concert.5
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| African private pressAfrica | Reports the court decision in a brief, factual manner without extensive editorializing.1 | appeals court confirmation, lawyers' statement |
| UK-based outletsEurope | The Guardian frames the sentence within a broader crackdown narrative and highlights rights groups' condemnation, while the BBC takes a more neutral, legally descriptive approach focused on the decency conviction.25 | rights groups' outrage, torture characterization, crackdown on hijab law flouting, legal conviction details |
| Middle East outletsMiddle East & Turkey | Both outlets emphasize international outrage and frame the case as part of Iran's criminalization of artistic activity or broader entertainment crackdown, including procedural details like the rejected appeal and court's reasoning.36 | international outrage, criminalisation of artistic activity, entertainment crackdown, court's public decency reasoning |
| Southeast Asian private pressSoutheast Asia | Centers the story on Amnesty International's call for Iran to halt the punishment, framing the case primarily through the lens of human rights advocacy.4 | Amnesty International's demand, halting punishment, flogging terminology |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported a direct response or statement from Parastoo Ahmadi herself regarding the upheld sentence.
- None of the outlets reviewed detailed when or how the lashing sentence would be carried out.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported the Iranian government's or judiciary's official response to the international criticism.
- Details on the outcomes for the other eight members of Ahmadi's production team, including whether their sentences were also upheld, are not fully reported across the outlets reviewed.
Why it matters
The sentence stems from a livestreamed concert in which Ahmadi performed in a sleeveless dress, which a Qom court found violated Iran's mandatory hijab and public decency laws.256
Rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have called for Iran to halt punishment of Ahmadi and her team, framing the case as part of a broader crackdown on artists and entertainers.46
What to watch
- Whether the 74-lash sentence is carried out and if so when, as this has not been reported by the outlets reviewed.
- Any official response from the Iranian government or judiciary to international criticism.
- The fate of the other eight members of Ahmadi's production team, including those who have and have not appealed.
Sources (6)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
Europe
- 2The GuardianGBPrivate
Iranian singer’s 74 lashes for performing without a hijab ‘a form of torture’, say rights groups
- 5BBC NewsGBPublic broadcaster
Iran court upholds lashes sentence for singer who performed without hijab
Middle East & Turkey
- 3The NationalAEPrivate
Iranian court rejects appeal of singer sentenced to 74 lashes
- 6The Jerusalem PostILPrivate
Musician sentenced to 74 lashes for hijabless performance as Iran continues entertainment crackdown
Africa
- 1VanguardNGPrivate
Iran court backs 74 lashes for singer who performed without hijab