DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian authorities have arrested a feminine singer who carried out a digital live performance on YouTube, a lawyer mentioned.
Milad Panahipour, an Iranian lawyer, mentioned Parastoo Ahmady, 27, was arrested in Sari City, capital of the northern province of Mazandaran, on Saturday.
On Thursday, the judiciary had filed a case relating to Ahmady’s live performance efficiency, through which she carried out carrying an extended black sleeveless and collarless costume, however no hijab. She was accompanied by 4 male musicians.
Ahmady had posted her live performance on YouTube the day earlier than, saying: “I’m Parastoo, a lady who needs to sing for the folks I really like. This is a proper I couldn’t ignore; singing for the land I really like passionately.”
The on-line live performance has been seen greater than 1.4 million instances.
Panahipour advised The Associated Press: “Unfortunately, we have no idea the fees in opposition to Ms. Ahmady, who arrested her, or her place of detention, however we are going to observe up on the matter via authorized authorities.”
He additionally mentioned two musicians in Ahmady’s band — Soheil Faghih Nasiri and Ehsan Beiraghdar — had been arrested in Tehran on Saturday.
Following the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, ladies had been banned at first from singing altogether, then from singing or dancing solo earlier than mixed-gender audiences. Female vocalists might carry out for male audiences solely as part of a refrain. But they’re allowed to sing in a corridor for female-only audiences.
Also primarily based on Iranian and Islamic legislation, ladies aren’t allowed to seem and not using a hijab in entrance of males who aren’t associated.
In Iran, the hijab — and the all-encompassing black chador worn by some — has lengthy been a political image as effectively, notably after turning into necessary within the years following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. For observant Muslim ladies, the pinnacle masking is an indication of piety earlier than God and modesty in entrance of males exterior their households.
There had been protests throughout Iran in 2022 following the loss of life of Mahsa Amini, 22, after her arrest by the nation’s morality police over allegedly not carrying her hijab. While police grew to become hesitant to strictly implement the Islamic costume code — probably to keep away from even wider demonstrations and shows of defiance — in current weeks the authorities’ tone has modified.
