Iranian singer faces 74 lashes over hijab-free performance, signaling cultural crackdown

A Qom province criminal court reportedly sentenced Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight crew members to 74 lashes, plus a two-year travel ban and a two-year ban on artistic activity, for performing without hijab during a 2024 livestream of the Caravanserai Concert. Prosecutors accuse them of offending public decency with online materials described as vulgar, reflecting ongoing cultural repression in Iran; rights groups say the punishment underscores the gap between regime rhetoric and the treatment of artists. The ruling hasn’t been officially published, though court documents seen by lawyers outline the charges.