Mehdi Yarrahi, a famous Iranian singer (43), has been sentenced to 74 lashes and fined for singing a song encouraging women to remove their hijabs. As a result of the punishment, Yarrahi is unable to sit or lean comfortably. The United Nations classifies flogging as an inhumane act and strictly prohibits it under international human rights conventions.
Yarrahi was arrested in August 2023 for releasing a song that was considered to violate Islamic moral values and social norms. The song was inspired by the 2022 hijab protests in Iran and praised women who removed their hijabs and revealed their hair.
Initially, the court sentenced Yarrahi to 2 years and 8 months in prison along with 74 lashes. However, his prison term was later reduced to 1 year due to concerns about his declining health. After receiving the flogging, Yarrahi was placed under house arrest.
A lawyer from Iran's Committee to Support Artists condemned the punishment, stating that Yarrahi’s flogging is a humiliation to both his fans and the religious establishment in Iranian society.
Viewer Comments:
I thought it was some weird song, but it’s actually a perfectly reasonable message.
I really think flogging is an inhumane act.
→Giving 74 lashes must be tough for the person doing it, too. Either way, this practice should be banned immediately.
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