Singer’s Arrest Sparks Global Outcry as Iran Tightens Enforcement of Dress Codes Amid Ongoing Women’s Rights Struggles
Parastoo Ahmady Faces Detention Amid Renewed Crackdown on Women’s Rights
Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmady has been arrested for performing a virtual concert on YouTube without a hijab, sparking global attention. The 27-year-old was detained in Sari City on Saturday after the concert video gained nearly 2 million views online.
Ahmady performed in a sleeveless, collarless dress without the mandatory hijab, accompanied by four male musicians. Authorities also arrested two of the musicians in Tehran on the same day.
The singer posted the concert video on Friday with a message in English:
“I am Parastoo, a girl who wants to sing for the people I love. This is a right I could not ignore; singing for the land I love passionately.”
Legal Uncertainty Surrounding Arrest
Ahmady’s lawyer, Milad Panahipour, stated that the details of her arrest remain unclear.
“We do not know the charges against Ms. Ahmady, who arrested her, or her place of detention, but we will follow up on the matter through legal authorities,” he said.
Iranian law strictly prohibits women from singing solo before mixed-gender audiences or appearing in public without a hijab. Such restrictions have been in place since the 1979 Islamic Revolution when Islamic dress codes were made mandatory.
Renewed Enforcement Following Protests
Ahmady’s arrest comes amid a renewed crackdown on women’s rights, following the nationwide protests in 2022 over the death of Mahsa Amini. Amini was detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly.
While those protests initially led to a temporary relaxation in enforcement, authorities have recently intensified measures against women defying hijab laws.
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