Iranian Singer Mehdi Yarrahi Flogged 74 Times for Protest Song

The punishment stems from Yarrahi's song advocating against Iran's mandatory hijab laws and supporting women's rights.

Mehdi Yarrahi, an Iranian musician known for his protest songs, was lashed 74 times as part of his sentence for releasing a song critical of Iran's hijab laws.
The song, 'Your Headscarf,' released in September 2023, coincided with the first anniversary of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death in custody.
Yarrahi was arrested in August 2023 and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, a fine, and the flogging; he served one year in prison and the remainder under house arrest.
Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi and other activists condemned the flogging as retaliation for Yarrahi's support of women's rights and dissent against the regime.
The case highlights Iran's enforcement of strict dress codes and harsh punishments under its interpretation of Sharia law, which has drawn widespread international criticism.