A Glance at Iranian Female Singers Persecuted or Imprisoned for Their Art Under the Islamic Republic. As Iranian women’s voices of defiance against religious fanaticism grow louder, and more refuse to bow to the regime’s compulsory hijab and suffocating restrictions, the struggle rages on. One of the fiercest battlegrounds remains a woman’s right to sing in public—especially in front of men. Such acts are routinely criminalized under vague charges like “offending public chastity,” “disseminating immoral content,” or “violating compulsory veiling laws.” These repressive measures have resulted in arbitrary arrests, lengthy prison sentences, and prolonged detention for countless female artists. According to independent media and human rights reports updated through December 2025, numerous Iranian women have been jailed or remain behind bars simply for performing publicly, posting music videos online, or defying hijab rules. Below are some of the most prominent cases:
Zara Esmaeili
A young singer whose uncovered performance of Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” in Tehran’s metro and public spaces went viral. She was arrested in August 2024 and transferred to the notorious Fashafouyeh Prison (Greater Tehran Central Prison). As of December 2025, her fate remains unknown, with reports suggesting she is still detained without any official update.
Charge: singing in public without hijab.
Hiva Seyfizadeh
A traditional music singer and instructor. In February 2025, she was arrested mid-performance in Tehran during a mixed-gender concert by security forces. Charged with violating gender-segregation laws and performing without a permit, she was sent to Evin Prison and sentenced to prison time. As of November 2025, she remains in temporary detention.
Charge: violating gender-segregation laws.
Parastoo Ahmadi
Arrested in December 2024 after streaming an uncovered solo concert on YouTube. Security agents raided her father’s home in Sari and took her into custody. Charged with solo singing without hijab and “publishing content contrary to public morals,” she was temporarily released in February 2025, but her case remains open and she faces the constant threat of re-imprisonment.
Charge: Solo singing without hijab in an internet concert
Negar Moazam
Sentenced in 2020 to one year in prison for singing during a rural tour in Abyaneh, Isfahan. She was part of a 2016–2022 crackdown in which six female singers were each handed one-year sentences for posting music videos on Instagram. Her conviction was upheld in 2022; she served her time and has been free since 2023. The case was linked to the broader “Right to Sing” campaign.
Charge: posting music videos on Instagram
Four unnamed female singers in Minab (Hormozgan Province)
In June 2022, four women were arrested for performing at local weddings and sent to Minab Prison. Although their identities were never disclosed, the local prosecutor confirmed the arrests. They have since been released but remain under judicial supervision.
Charge: Singing in the presence of men.
A fresh wave of repression hit in 2025. In April, at least six female singers—including members of the Faravardin collective—were either detained or summoned after posting music on Instagram. The accounts of singers such as Golasa Rahimzadeh, Mehrban Jazini, Mandana Akbarzadeh, Azadeh Kibriya, Zeynab Barimani, and Faatemeh Hamidi were blocked. Some were imprisoned, though exact details remain scarce. Another recent victim is Asmar Hamidi, a Kurdish female singer arrested in December 2025 on charges of “critical statements and cultural activities.” According to latest news, she has been out on bail. These women are not criminals—they are prisoners of a regime that criminalizes the very sound of a woman’s voice in public. Their ongoing persecution lays bare the Islamic Republic’s desperate fear of art, joy, and freedom. So next time someone tried to tell you Iran regime had it easy on women or women are not struggling to gain freedom still, do not show them these, just push them off a cliff.
