Iranian authorities have arrested Parastoo Ahmady, a 27-year-old female singer, after she performed a virtual concert on YouTube without wearing a hijab, according to her lawyer.
The concert, posted on Thursday and quickly gained over 1.4 million views, featured Ahmady in a sleeveless black dress, performing alongside four male musicians.
Ahmady, who performed in defiance of Iran’s strict dress codes for women, posted a message saying, “I am Parastoo, a girl who wants to sing for the people I love.
This is a right I could not ignore.” Her performance was particularly controversial as women in Iran are legally required to cover their hair and wear modest clothing in public.
Her arrest took place on Saturday in Sari City, Mazandaran province, following an official case being filed by the judiciary. Ahmady’s lawyer, Milad Panahipour, has stated that they are unaware of the specific charges against her or her current whereabouts but confirmed that legal authorities are being contacted for further information.
Two of Ahmady’s bandmates, Soheil Faghih Nasiri and Ehsan Beiraghdar, were also arrested in Tehran on the same day.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian women have faced strict regulations concerning public performance, particularly in the arts. While female vocalists are allowed to perform for female-only audiences, they are prohibited from singing solo in front of men.
Additionally, the hijab is mandatory for women in public spaces, a law that has become a significant political symbol in the country.
This arrest follows a wave of protests in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after allegedly violating the country’s hijab law.
