Singer Parastoo Ahmadi and Musicians Charged Over Virtual Concert

Parastoo Ahmadi, a singer, along with musicians previously arrested for holding an virtual concert, were summoned to Tehran’s District 38 Morality Court today to face charges. They were released on bail after the hearing.

Ahmadi’s bail was set at 3 billion tomans, while each musician’s bail was set at 2 billion tomans. The specific charges against them have not been disclosed.

Background on the Case

Ahmadi, pianist Ehsan Beyraghdar, and electric guitarist Soheil Faghih-Nasiri recently staged an audience-free concert streamed live on Ahmadi’s YouTube channel. The concert, which took place in an old caravanserai, sparked judicial action against them.

Shortly after the concert, Ahmadi and the two musicians were arrested. Tasnim News Agency reported that the head of the Information Center for Mazandaran’s Police Command accused Ahmadi of “producing and disseminating videos that violate societal norms and values,” leading to her summons by Public Security Police and subsequent referral to the judiciary.

On December 14, the two musicians were released on bail, followed by Ahmadi at 3 a.m. the following day.

About Parastoo Ahmadi

Parastoo Ahmadi, 27, is a singer and graduate of directing from Soore University. She gained recognition during the 2022 protests with her rendition of “Az Khoon-e Javanan-e Vatan” by Aref Qazvini. Ahmadi’s repertoire includes a variety of musical works, such as renditions of Mazandaran folk songs and pieces by Baba Taher and Akhavan Sales.

Charo Ahmadi Arrested in Divandarreh in Kurdistan Province

On Monday, August 16, Sanandaj resident Charo (Jaleh) Ahmadi was arrested and transferred to an unknown location by security forces in Divandarreh .

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, A day later, Ms. Ahmadi was released on bail from a security detention center on Tuesday, August 17.

The security forces searched Ms. Ahmadi’s house and confiscated some of her personal belongings at the time of the arrest.

Charo Ahmadi is a Kurdish language teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Ms. Ahmadi is a member of the board of directors of the Zagros Socio-Cultural Institute in Divandere.

As of this writing, no information is available on the reasons for the arrest or the charges against her.