An Iranian court sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi to 74 lashes for appearing without a hijab during a virtual concert streamed on YouTube [1].

The ruling underscores the Iranian government's continued crackdown on women's dress and artistic expression, particularly regarding the mandatory wearing of the veil in public and online performances.

The Islamic Penal Court of Qom issued the sentence on June 18, 2026 [1, 2]. Ahmadi, 29, was accused of producing immoral or vulgar content by performing without a hijab, which violates national laws requiring women to be veiled during public appearances [1, 5].

In addition to the corporal punishment, the court imposed a two-year ban [2]. Reports vary on the specific scope of this restriction; some indicate she is barred from singing [1], while others state she cannot work or leave the country [2].

Ahmadi was not the only person penalized for the event. The court handed the same sentence of 74 lashes to eight other participants involved in the production [3].

The performance, described as a virtual online concert [1], became the basis for the legal action after it was broadcast on YouTube. The court said the lack of a veil was a direct violation of the state's moral codes.

“An Iranian court sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi to 74 lashes”

This sentencing reflects the persistence of strict dress-code enforcement in Iran, extending the reach of the state's 'morality' laws into the digital sphere. By penalizing not only the performer but also eight collaborators, the judiciary is signaling a zero-tolerance policy toward digital defiance of the hijab law.