In a stark reminder of the tightening grip on artistic and personal freedoms in Iran, singer Parastoo Ahmadi was sentenced to 74 lashes and two years of artistic banishment for performing without a hijab in a virtual concert. The ruling, handed down by a court in Qom—a major religious center—also affects eight members of her musical team, all receiving the same corporal punishment and restrictions on travel and artistic activities.

The case dates back to December 11, 2024, when Ahmadi and her band performed a closed-door concert at a caravanserai in Deir Gachin, Qom province. The half-hour show, titled *An Imaginary Concert*, was streamed on YouTube and quickly amassed nearly three million views. The title itself was a subtle protest against the ban on women singing solo in public in Iran. In the video, Ahmadi appears with uncovered hair and sleeveless black dress, performing alongside male musicians.

Authorities charged the group with “offense to public morality” and accused them of producing and distributing “vulgar” and “immoral” content. Following the broadcast, Tehran’s prosecutor formally charged Ahmadi by the end of December 2024. She was briefly detained and later released on bail, along with the other accused, according to the Iranian human rights group Hrana.

Born in 1997 and a graduate in film directing from Tehran’s Soore University, Ahmadi gained prominence during the 2022 anti-government protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. Ahmadi’s reinterpretation of a patriotic song became a symbol of resistance against the regime.

This sentence arrives amid renewed social and security crackdowns in Iranian cities such as Isfahan, Rasht, and Anzali, where morality patrols have intensified enforcement not only against women’s hijab compliance but also against men’s clothing deemed inappropriate, including shorts.

While the repression of artistic expression and women’s rights in Iran continues to escalate, it’s a stark contrast to initiatives like Mexico’s upcoming cable car system in Puebla, which aims to enhance inclusive urban mobility and social integration—showing how public infrastructure can be a tool for empowerment rather than control.