Iranian singer arrested for performing without a hijab
She may face the death penalty
Iranian security forces have arrested singer Parasto Ahmadi and her musicians for performing at an online concert where the singer appeared with bare shoulders and without a hijab. The singer has been accused of violating the laws of the Islamic Republic, reports ABC News.
According to the singer’s lawyer, Milad Panahipour, Iranian laws prohibit women from singing solo or appearing in public without a hijab. Those accused of «promoting or spreading obscenity, refusing to wear the hijab, and improper conduct» face up to 10 years in prison. In some cases, if the authorities determine that the hijab violation is linked to «collaboration with foreign states to promote breaches of modesty standards», the penalty could even be death.
Ahmadi’s performance, in which she exposed her shoulders and did not cover her head, appears to have been a deliberate act of defiance. In the past, she had participated in nationwide protests against mandatory hijab-wearing. Her home was searched, and she was interrogated by security forces.
As for the current incident, the online concert went viral on Iranian YouTube, garnering over 1.5 million views in just one day. The news quickly spread through global media, receiving widespread attention. Consequently, the police chief of Mazandaran held a briefing and announced that singer Parasto Ahmadi had been released and allowed to return home.
