The Qom Appeals Court upheld severe penalties against Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi and seven fellow musicians. Presiding Judge Abbas Qarabaghi rejected defense arguments, affirming the initial trial court convictions on all charges. Consequently, judicial authorities confirmed punishments including 74 lashes, two-year travel bans, and two-year professional artistic bans. Furthermore, the ruling mandates the public broadcast of the final convictions across domestic national media outlets. Thus, the decision establishes a firm legal precedent regarding online musical performances lacking state authorization.
The legal proceedings stem directly from a virtual musical project produced at the historic Deir-e Gachin caravanserai. Ahmadi performed as the lead vocalist without mandatory hijab restrictions alongside a full backing ensemble in late 2024. Co-defendants include musicians Amirali Pirnia, Alireza Bachari, Majid Mohseni, Soheil Faqih-Nasiri, Mohammad Amin Taheri, Mohsen Lashkari, and Tahmineh Monzavi. Additionally, prosecutors cited penal codes addressing public morality violations and digital content distribution. Judicial authorities subsequently sealed the historic monument following the immediate digital publication of the performance across international streaming platforms.
The digital performance rapidly garnered massive international public attention, accumulating more than three million views across online networks. Prior to her indictment, Ahmadi publicly defended her artistic initiative as a fundamental right to perform. However, judicial institutions classified the online broadcast as non-compliant with statutory cultural guidelines and public decorum laws. Furthermore, legal analysts emphasized that prosecutors applied cybercrime regulations alongside traditional penal statutes during the trial proceedings. Therefore, human rights groups continue to monitor the case as state authorities intensify regulatory oversight of digital media.
Legal representatives for the convicted musicians are exploring remaining constitutional avenues before national high courts. Meanwhile, enforcement officers are preparing to execute the physical punishments and administrative bans mandated by the appellate decision. Culturally, industry observers anticipate heightened self-censorship among Iranian independent musical collectives operating across digital channels. Moreover, state media regulators plan to implement stricter monitoring systems covering historic heritage locations and production sites. Consequently, this final verdict underscores growing judicial pressure surrounding artistic expression throughout the country.