The Tehran Appeals Court has upheld a sentence of 74 lashes for Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi, rejecting her legal challenge to a lower court’s ruling on September 28, 2026. The decision moves the case into the final stage of enforcement.
Ahmadi was convicted of “offending public decency” and “promoting corruption” following a livestreamed concert. During the performance, she appeared without the mandatory hijab while wearing a sleeveless dress. While some earlier legal assessments suggested the sentence might be suspended, the appeals court’s final ruling indicates the punishment is now active for execution.
Legal Framework and the Hijab Bill
The use of flogging for “obvious” violations of religious norms is a standard punishment under Article 638 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code. However, the finality of Parastoo Ahmadi‘s sentence reflects a shift in the judicial landscape following the 2026 implementation of the “Bill to Support the Family by Promoting the Culture of Chastity and Hijab.”
This legislation specifically targets public figures, influencers, and celebrities with increased severity. Legal analysts noted that the law streamlines convictions for public figures, making it more difficult for defendants to receive the commutations or suspended sentences that were more common prior to the formal ratification of the bill. In Ahmadi’s case, the court chose to maintain corporal punishment rather than opting for a fine or community service.
Targeting of Artists and Public Figures
Human rights organizations have reported a consistent increase in the targeting of female artists since the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. These groups suggest that corporal punishment is being utilized as a tool of state intimidation against performers who have become symbols of social or cultural resistance. Ahmadi, who is of Kurdish-Iranian descent, faced a judicial process that mirrors the treatment of other high-profile musicians in the country.
The judiciary has frequently used “public decency” and “corruption” charges to bypass the more complex international scrutiny associated with political charges. This pattern has been observed in recent cases involving other prominent figures, such as Shervin Hajipour and Toomaj Salehi, where the legal focus remains on behavioral and moral violations defined by state religious standards.
The enforcement of the lash sentence against Ahmadi signals a strict application of the current morality laws, emphasizing that the Iranian judiciary is moving away from the relative leniency sometimes granted to artists during high-profile appeals.
