Singer in Iran arrested after performing on YouTube without a hijab

A woman who published her own video was arrested in Iran Singing without a headscarf on YouTubeAlthough Iran’s parliament has passed a new, stricter law on women’s chastity that has been criticized by rights groups.

On Wednesday, Parastoo Ahmady released a video of her 27-minute concert performance, in which she sings in a sleeveless dress with her hair down, accompanied by four male musicians. In his caption, he described it as an “imaginary concert” and invited the audience to “dream about this beautiful homeland” in Iran.

The performance was: It was shot in a caravanseraiThe name of the roadside inns historically built along the Silk Road to provide places to rest for merchants and travelers walking the ancient trade route from North Africa to Central Asia. It is “the place where history and our myths intertwine,” Ahmady wrote.

The photo’s caption read, “I’m Parastoo, a girl who wants to sing for the people I love.” “This is a right I cannot ignore; to sing for the land I love so passionately.”

Iranian lawyer Milad Panahipour he told the Associated Press It was stated that Ahmadi was arrested on Saturday due to the demonstration. He told the press that he was not aware of the charges against him, the detention unit or the place where he was detained.

The Iranian judiciary confirmed that a lawsuit had been filed regarding Ahmadi’s performance, but did not specify the charges against him. In the statement made by the state-owned Mehr News Agency, it was also stated that Ahmadi was released after a meeting with the authorities.

“The Mazandaran Police Information Center announced that Ms. Parastoo Ahmadi attended a briefing session after posting a video that was deemed to be against cultural norms and values,” the agency said. he said. “He was asked to be brought before the judicial authorities.”

Hengaw Human Rights Organization, a Norway-based organization He said he got a report Two of the men who performed with him (musicians Sohail Faghih-Nassiri and Ehsan Beyraghdar) were also arrested.

Hijab laws are being tightened in Iran

The strict regimes that have ruled since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution have passed laws stating that women must cover themselves in front of men, but women have resisted these rules both at home and abroad.

Dispute over the issue sparks international outrage once again in 2022 When a young woman named Mahsa Amini was arrested outside A lawsuit was filed at the metro station in Tehran for allegedly not wearing the headscarf properly. The 22-year-old man died just three days later.

The Iranian government has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that Amini died due to pre-existing medical conditions. However, human rights groups have cast doubt on this and United Nations fact-finding mission claimed He was killed “as a result of beating” by Iranian officials.

Her death sparked outrage throughout Iran and led women to protest in droves. Despite severe pressure from the authorities.

Authorities who enforce hijab laws and are often called the morality police have eased public clashes with women over veiling since the election of President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier this year. Pezeshkian campaigned as a reformer who opposed such morality police patrols.

However the application did not stop completelyAccording to local people, police have now been instructed to issue warnings rather than take immediate action. So-called “anti-reveal clinics” were also established, where women were encouraged to comply with hijab laws through “therapy”.

Despite Pezeshkian’s reformist approach, the Iranian parliament passed even harsher laws regarding women’s veiling earlier this year.

The Hijab and Chastity Law was first introduced by former president Ebrahim Raisi. deaths in Mayand was finally accepted in September, According to Human Rights Watch. Implementation of the law will be for a three-year trial period, and the human rights organization said penalties for women who do not comply with the law will increase significantly.

This new law extends enforcement to online spaces, increases penalties based on the frequency of violations, imposes travel bans on violators, and includes long-term imprisonment as punishment, Human Rights Watch reported. Fines alone could be harmful to many Iranians When the country’s economy is in a difficult situation under the weight of years of sanctions and regional conflicts.

UN Human Rights Council experts He called for the law to be repealed on Friday, describing it as a “comprehensive system of gender-based oppression.”

Pezeshkian criticized the law earlier this month on the grounds that it was difficult to implement. both a statement about X and an interview on public television.

“We should not do anything that would disrupt the unity and solidarity of society,” Pezeshkian said. “We need to establish dialogue and participate in discussions on this issue,” he said.

This article was first published on: NBCNews.com