Iranian authorities have arrested a female singer who performed a virtual concert on YouTube. The singer, aged 27, was arrested in Sari City, capital of the northern province of Mazandaran. The judiciary had filed a case regarding the concert performance, where the singer appeared in a long black sleeveless and collarless dress without a hijab, accompanied by four male musicians.
The singer had posted the concert on YouTube, expressing her passion for singing for the people she loves. The online concert garnered over 1.4 million views. Two musicians from the singer's band were also arrested in Tehran.
Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, women in Iran were initially banned from singing altogether and later restricted from performing solo before mixed-gender audiences. Female vocalists were only allowed to perform for male audiences as part of a chorus. Additionally, women are required to wear a hijab in front of unrelated men based on Iranian and Islamic law.
The hijab has been a significant political symbol in Iran, especially after becoming mandatory post the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It is considered a sign of piety and modesty for observant Muslim women. Recent events in Iran, including protests after the death of a woman arrested for not wearing her hijab, have highlighted the ongoing tensions surrounding dress codes and individual freedoms in the country.
