Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi has boldly tested the limits of Iran’s strict dress codes by performing a concert on her YouTube channel without the mandatory hijab. The groundbreaking performance streamed on Thursday, December 11, has sparked widespread admiration within the Iranian diaspora, with many applauding her courage. Ahmadi is completely aware of the risks she faces, including potential legal action or worse, for openly defying the Islamic Republic’s rigid dress codes under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
This act of defiance follows a similar demonstration by student Ahou Daryaei, who walked publicly in her underwear to oppose harassment by regime enforcers. Daryaei has since disappeared from public view and is reportedly being confined in a psychiatric facility, with authorities considering systematic internment for women who defy the dress code.
A Bold Statement in a Restrictive Environment
Ahmadi’s performance featured her in a form-fitting black dress with bare shoulders and no headscarf, a direct breach of the Islamic Republic’s norms. The concert, lasting about 30 minutes, was filmed in a traditional caravanserai courtyard with dim lighting. The video appears to have been recorded in Iran, though the exact date remains unknown.
Performing alongside four male band members, Ahmadi’s act challenges the decades-long restrictions imposed on Iranian women since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which mandated hair covering and banned solo public performances by female singers.
On her YouTube channel, Ahmadi introduced the concert with a powerful statement:
“I am Parastoo, the girl who cannot stay silent and refuses to stop singing for the country she loves. Listen to my voice in this imaginary concert and dream of a free and beautiful nation.”
Backlash and Support
Iran’s judiciary swiftly denounced the concert. The Mizan news agency criticised the performance as “music that disrespects legal and religious rules” and confirmed that authorities had taken “appropriate measures” and initiated legal action against Ahmadi and her production team.
In contrast, exiled dissident Masih Alinejad hailed the concert as “historic,” declaring on social media from the U.S.:
“Her voice is a weapon against tyranny, her courage an ode to defiance.”
Rising Tensions Amid Stricter Laws
Ahmadi’s act of defiance comes as Iran considers passing a new law imposing harsher penalties for violating the dress code, with Amnesty International cautioning that women could face the death penalty for non-compliance under legislation promoting “the culture of chastity and the hijab.”
The current wave of protests against the hijab mandate began in September 2022, following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman arrested for dress code violations. Amini’s death ignited nationwide protests, with hundreds killed and many, like rapper Toomaj Salehi, facing imprisonment for supporting the movement.
Ahmadi’s bold stand adds to the growing resistance against the regime, further challenging the clerics’ hold on Iranian society.