Iranian court rejects appeal of singer sentenced to 74 lashes
An Iranian court has rejected a singer’s appeal against a sentence of 74 lashes and a ban on work and travel, making final a decision that prompted international outrage over Iran’s criminalisation of artistic activity. An appeal court chief in the city of Qom rejected a petition by performer Parastoo Ahmadi, 29, and seven members of her team over sentences they received for a performance.…
An Iranian court has refused to overturn the 74 lashes and travel/ban on artistic activity sentence given to singer Parastoo Ahmadi and her team. The decision, made by an appeals court in Qom, follows their conviction for "hurting public decency" by performing a concert without an audience and broadcasting it online in December 2024.
The video of the performance, viewed over three million times on YouTube, showed Ahmadi singing without a headscarf, which is mandatory for women in public under Iranian law. The court rejected the appeal, citing insufficient evidence and arguments from the performers' legal team. Human rights groups have condemned the harsh punishment, calling it a degrading and violent form of retribution primarily used against political activists and ethnic minorities.
The dismissal of Ahmadi's appeal may signal increased pressure on artistic and cultural activities in Iran as the country faces intensified crackdowns on dissent.
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- Iranian court rejects appeal of singer sentenced to 74 lashes thenationalnews.com
