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Jun 18, 20261
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Iranian Singer Parastoo Ahmadi Sentenced to Flogging and Artistic Ban Over Livestreamed Concert
Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight members of the 'Caravanserai Concert' production team have been sentenced to 74 lashes, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year ban on artistic activities by Qom's Criminal Court. The sentence stems from a December 2024 livestreamed concert deemed to have violated public decency standards.
Quick Facts
Who
Parastoo Ahmadi
What
Symbolic concert held at Deir Gachin Caravanserai
When
December 2024 - concert held
Where
Deir Gachin Caravanserai, Qom
- Symbolic concert held at Deir Gachin Caravanserai
- Livestreaming of concert on YouTube
- Arrests of performers
- Judicial investigation opened
- Formal charging at prosecutor's office
Parastoo Ahmadi, an Iranian singer, and eight members of the production team and musicians involved in the 'Caravanserai Concert' have been sentenced by the Criminal Court of Qom Province to 74 lashes, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year prohibition on artistic activities. The charges against the defendants centered on 'offending public decency through the production and publication of vulgar and immoral content on cyberspace platforms.' The case originated from a symbolic concert held in December 2024 at the Deir Gachin Caravanserai in Qom, which was livestreamed on Ahmadi's YouTube channel.
The concert performance led to the arrest of Ahmadi, pianist Ehsan Beiraqdar, and electric guitarist Soheil Faqih-Nasiri shortly after the video was published. Authorities described the performance as contrary to social norms and values. The two male musicians were released on December 15, 2024, under judicial supervision orders, while Ahmadi was released the following day under similar conditions. On December 23, 2024, all defendants were formally charged at Branch 38 of the Tehran Prosecutor's Office for Moral Security Affairs and subsequently released on bail.
Parastoo Ahmadi, born in 1997 in Nowshahr, is a graduate of film directing from Soore University who gained prominence during the 2022 nationwide protests with her rendition of the patriotic song 'Az Khoon-e Javanan-e Vatan' ('From the Blood of the Youth of the Homeland'). Her artistic repertoire includes reinterpretations of Mazandarani folk songs and works by renowned poets Baba Taher and Mehdi Akhavan Sales. The sentencing reflects ongoing tensions in Iran regarding artistic expression and content deemed inconsistent with state-defined social norms.
Why This Matters
This case exemplifies the ongoing restrictions on artistic expression in Iran and highlights the government's enforcement of its interpretation of social and moral standards through legal mechanisms. For international audiences, it demonstrates the challenges facing Iranian artists and the risks they face when their performances are deemed inconsistent with state-defined cultural norms, particularly through digital platforms like YouTube. The sentencing signals the Iranian authorities' intent to control content distribution and regulate artists' public visibility, which has broader implications for freedom of expression in the region.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 1997
WireParastoo Ahmadi born in Nowshahr
Jan 1, 2022
WireAhmadi gains prominence during nationwide protests with patriotic song rendition
Dec 15, 2024
WirePianists Ehsan Beiraqdar and guitarist Soheil Faqih-Nasiri released under judicial supervision
Dec 16, 2024
WireParastoo Ahmadi released from detention under judicial supervision at approximately 3:00 a.m.
Dec 23, 2024
WireAll defendants formally charged at Branch 38 of Tehran Prosecutor's Office for Moral Security Affairs; released on bail
Jun 18, 2026
WireSentencing reported: 74 lashes, two-year travel ban, and two-year artistic activity prohibition