Parasto Ahmady, a 27-year-old Iranian singer, has been arrested for performing without wearing a hijab during a virtual concert.
The singer, who shared a video of her performance on YouTube without the mandatory headscarf, was detained on Saturday in the northern city of Sari, in the Mazandaran province of Iran. Her lawyer, Milad Panahipour, confirmed the arrest and mentioned that two of her bandmates were also apprehended in Tehran at their music studio.
Panahipour stated that the exact charges against Ahmady remain unclear, and there is uncertainty about who carried out the arrest or her current location. He assured the public that he would pursue legal channels to gain more information.
This arrest comes amid ongoing debates over women’s rights in Iran, particularly the strict dress code that requires women to wear the hijab. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the hijab has been compulsory, and the issue remains highly contentious, especially following the 2022 protests sparked by the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish Iranian woman in police custody.
In addition to Ahmady’s detention, reports indicate that two male musicians from her band were also arrested in Tehran on the same day. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding freedom of expression and women’s rights in Iran.
