If you’re using social media platforms, chances are you must’ve encountered a viral video of age 27 Parastoo Ahmadi featuring the Irani singer performing without a hijab
Not aware of the viral clip? Here’s the information.
Earlier, social media platforms, especially X/Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and Reddit, have been buzzing with a viral clip of a Iran-based singer who was featured performing without a hijab. Following the viral clip, the authorities in Iran arrested Parastoo Ahmadi on Saturday.
Who is singer Parastoo Ahmadi (Ahmady) as she’s arrested in Iran for performing without hijab, bio, age, religion, education and songs
Iranian singer, Parastoo Ahmadi, has performed without her hijab in a livestream on Youtube.
Iran’s ‘morality laws’ make it mandatory for women to wear hijabs and they are not allowed to sing in public, meaning she risks years of imprisonment. pic.twitter.com/s4KryTt8tT
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) December 13, 2024
What Exactly Happened?
As aforesaid, the 27-year-old singer from Nowshahr in northern Iran, was arrested on Saturday for performing without a hijab during an online YouTube concert.
The now-viral performance, which was held on Wednesday, also led to the arrests of two accompanying musicians, Ehsan Beiraghdar and Soheil Faghih-Nassiri, following a case filed against Parastoo Ahmadi on Thursday.
Who is Parastoo Ahmadi?
For the curious, age 27 singer Parastoo Ahmadi aka Ahmady of Iran who is a Muslim by religion, a graduate of Soore University in Tehran with a degree in directing, is a talented vocalist and pianist. Her YouTube channel, which goes by the name @ParastooAhmadii has more than 50,000 subscribers, with only 6 videos on the platform. As of now, her channel has garnered 1,718,373 views.
#BREAKING Iranian female singer Parastoo Ahmadi has been arrested after performing an online concert without a hijab in defiance of the theocracy's Islamic dress mandates, her lawyer said. Two members of her band, Ehsan Beiraghdar and Soheil Faghih-Nassiri, were also arrested on… pic.twitter.com/EpgNtOLkhQ
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) December 14, 2024
The singer so far has amassed more than 7,300 monthly listeners on Spotify. At the time of writing this article, her Instagram account, which goes by the name @parastooahmady has been suspended.
Singles & EPs · Vasoonak Shirazi – Single · Vasoonak Shirazi – Single. 2024 · Nafas-e Shab – Single · Nafas-e Shab – Single. 2024 · Heyrani – Single · Heyrani
What Did the Viral-Video Feature?
The now-viral concert clip was filmed at a caravanserai, a traditional Iranian roadside inn, had amassed 1.6 million views by Sunday morning.
In the video, Ahmadi first seen introducing herself, saying, “I am Parastoo; a girl who wants to sing for the people she loves… this is a right I could not forsake.”
Let us remind you, this is not Ahmadi’s first clash with authorities. During the 2022 anti-veil protests sparked Ahmadi performed a historic song associated with the Iranian resistance movements.
The recent arrest highlights Iran’s ongoing enforcement of its strict dress codes. In 2022, another woman, Ahoo Daryaei, protested “abusive” dress code policies at a Tehran university by stripping down to her underwear.
Daryaei was later detained by plainclothes officers and reportedly admitted to a mental health facility. Amnesty International has since called for her immediate and unconditional release.
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