Iranian Singer Mehdi Yarrahi Flogged 74 Times for Supporting Anti-Hijab Protests
Yarrahi was accused of releasing an illegal song that is against the morals and customs of Islamic society
Mehdi Yarrahi, a prominent Iranian singer, was recently flogged 74 times as part of his punishment for releasing a song that supported the removal of the hijab, a key issue in the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests in Iran.
His song, titled “Roosarito” or “Your Headscarf,” encouraged women to remove their headscarves, which is against Iran’s strict dress code laws.
Yarrahi was arrested in August 2023 and sentenced by the Tehran Revolutionary Court to two years and eight months in prison, along with the flogging. However, due to health issues, he served only one year of his prison term, which was later converted to house arrest with an ankle monitor.
The flogging was carried out at the Moral Security Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran, marking the end of his criminal case. Yarrahi’s lawyer, Zahra Minuei, confirmed the execution of the sentence on social media.
The punishment was “fully and completely implemented,” his attorney, Zahra Minoui, said in a post on X.
Despite the severe punishment, Yarrahi has expressed defiance, stating that he is willing to pay the price for freedom.
His case highlights the ongoing crackdown on artists and musicians in Iran who express dissent against the government’s strict laws and policies.
The protests in Iran, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, have been met with violent crackdowns, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests. Yarrahi’s support for these protests through his music has made him a symbol of resistance in Iran.
