Iranian Singer Arrested for Performing Without Hijab in Defiant Online Concert

Parastoo Ahmadi's performance challenges Iran's strict modesty laws, igniting widespread support and highlighting ongoing resistance to mandatory veiling.

Parastoo Ahmadi, a 27-year-old Iranian singer, was arrested after live-streaming a 27-minute concert where she performed without a hijab, defying Iran's strict laws on women's modesty.
The performance was filmed in a caravanserai and featured nine Persian songs, including a protest anthem, symbolizing resistance against the regime's restrictions on women and artists.
Ahmadi and two male musicians were briefly detained but later released following public outrage, though charges have been filed, and her social media accounts have been taken down.
The concert comes as Iran enforces harsher penalties under its new Hijab and Chastity Law, which extends veiling requirements to online spaces and introduces severe punishments for violations.
Ahmadi's act of defiance has drawn comparisons to other recent protests against Iran's mandatory hijab laws, with her voice resonating as a symbol of resistance across the country.