Iranian Singer Parastoo Ahmadi Released After Arrest Over Hijab-Less Virtual Concert

The Iranian regime has released 27-year-old singer Parastoo Ahmadi following her arrest for performing without the mandatory hijab during a live-streamed virtual concert. Ahmadi’s detention on Saturday in the northern city of Sari sparked outrage across social media, with many viewing it as another instance of the state’s heavy-handed enforcement of Islamic dress codes.

Ahmadi, a bold and defiant voice in a country where women are not allowed to sing solo in public, staged the concert in the courtyard of a caravanserai. The performance, broadcast live on her YouTube channel—a platform officially banned in Iran—featured her wearing a dress that exposed her shoulders. Despite the risks, Ahmadi described the event as an act of love and resistance.

A Symbol of Defiance

On Instagram, Ahmadi wrote about her motivations, describing the performance as a tribute to the people and the land she deeply loves. “I am Parastoo, a girl who wants to sing for the people I love. This is a right I could not ignore—singing for the land I passionately love. Here, in this part of our dear Iran, where history and our legends intertwine, listen to my voice in this imaginary concert,” she posted.

The performance marks a rare act of defiance against the strict dress and conduct codes imposed on women in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Ahmadi is the first female singer to publicly challenge the ban on solo performances without a hijab in over four decades.

Arrest and Release

Ahmadi’s lawyer, Milad Panahipour, confirmed her arrest was carried out without prior notification or judicial summons. Detained on Saturday, she was released at 3 a.m. local time on Sunday after significant public pressure. Panahipour suggested that Tehran’s decision to release her signals the regime’s growing unease amidst ongoing protests and public dissent.

Her detention comes on the heels of several other high-profile acts of resistance, including a university student protesting strict Islamic dress codes by demonstrating in her underwear. These incidents have drawn international attention, shining a spotlight on the growing discontent within Iran.

Resistance Through Art

Ahmadi’s concert, while small and “imaginary,” as she described it, carries immense symbolic weight. Women in Iran are forbidden by law to sing solo in public, a restriction that has silenced countless voices. Her act of broadcasting a performance without a hijab challenges these oppressive norms and asserts the right of women to freely express themselves through art.

Singing from the courtyard of a historical caravanserai, Ahmadi chose a venue steeped in Iranian history, tying her resistance to the country's cultural heritage. Her bold decision reflects the determination of many Iranian women to reclaim public spaces and their identities.

Broader Context

Ahmadi’s arrest and subsequent release occur at a moment of heightened tension for the Iranian regime. The government faces mounting internal challenges from protest movements fueled by dissatisfaction with its policies, as well as external pressures, including Israeli attacks on its regional proxies and the faltering of allies such as the Assad regime in Syria.

As the regime grapples with these challenges, acts of defiance like Ahmadi’s resonate as symbols of a society unwilling to accept authoritarian control over personal freedoms. Her concert is a reminder of the role art and culture can play in resistance, offering hope and solidarity to those fighting for change.