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Iranian Singer Parastoo Ahmadi, 27, Released After Arrest Over Viral Concert Without Hijab

Dec 15, 2024, 08:03 AM

Parastoo Ahmadi, a 27-year-old Iranian singer, was arrested on Saturday after performing an online concert without wearing a hijab. The concert, titled "Konsert-e Farzi" (Virtual Concert), was live-streamed on YouTube and recorded in a historic caravanserai. In the performance, Ahmadi appeared without the mandatory hijab, wearing a dress that left her shoulders uncovered. The video quickly went viral, amassing nearly 2 million views. Her lawyer, Milad Panahipour, reported that she was arrested in Mazandaran province without prior summons or notification. Two of her band members, Ehsan Beiraghdar and Soheil Faghih-Nassiri, were also arrested at their music school in Tehran. After initial reports of her arrest, conflicting statements emerged about her release. Authorities claimed she had been freed after a "counseling session," but her lawyer initially denied this. Later, he confirmed that Ahmadi and the two musicians were released in the early hours of Sunday. The incident underscores ongoing tensions over women's rights and compulsory hijab laws in Iran.