Concert without a headscarf: Iranian singer released from prison

Shortly after their arrest, the Iranian musician Parastoo Ahmadi and two of her band members were released from custody. Her lawyer Milad Panahipur told the daily Sharhg. His clients were released on Sunday night, but he has not yet had any contact with them. Now they have to wait for the official charges.

The three musicians were arrested on Saturday. The reason for her arrest: Parastoo had broken several taboos. She sang without a headscarf, in an un-Islamic dress and published the concert on YouTube. The video has already been viewed more than 1.6 million times.

People at home and abroad had praised the woman in online media for her courageous initiative. In Iran, many women are dissatisfied with the strict Islamic laws and dress codes. In the fall of 2022, masses took to the streets against repressive policies under the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom,” but the demonstrations were violently suppressed.

Many women in major cities are now defying Islamic dress codes, especially the mandatory headscarf, in protest. The parliament, which is dominated by Islamic hardliners, now wants to take action against this with a new law and draconian penalties