Iranian singer Mehdi Yarrahi given 74 lashes over protest song
Mehdi Yarrahi, an acclaimed Iranian protest singer, has faced the brutal consequences of standing up to Iran’s authoritarian regime. This week, Yarrahi endured 74 lashes as part of an agreement to conclude a criminal case against him — a punishment that has sent shockwaves across social media and human rights circles. His crime was rooted in his art: a protest song titled Your Headscarf (Roo Sarito), released in September 2023 to mark the first anniversary of the “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising. The song, a bold critique of Iran’s oppressive dress code for women, ignited both admiration and fury, sealing Yarrahi’s fate in the eyes of the regime.
Yarrahi’s journey through Iran’s judicial system began in January 2024, when the Tehran revolutionary court convicted him of “acting unlawfully” by releasing his protest song. Despite the clear artistic and political motivations behind his work, the court deemed his actions criminal. He was sentenced to one year in prison — a grim reminder of the Iranian government’s relentless crackdown on dissent. However, the sentence was later converted to electronic ankle monitoring, which concluded in December 2024. For a brief moment, it seemed like Yarrahi had escaped the worst of his punishment, but the brutal reality soon caught up with him.
Freedom came with a cruel price. The return of Yarrahi’s 15 billion toman bail, paid by a third party, was tied to him receiving the barbaric sentence of 74 lashes. This medieval-style flogging was carried out this week, reigniting fury and sorrow among Iranians and activists worldwide. Despite the looming punishment, Yarrahi stood firm in his resolve. He posted on X, saying: “I am ready to receive the sentence of 74 lashes, and while I condemn this inhuman torture, I make no request to cancel it.” His statement echoed the same unyielding spirit that has made him a symbol of resistance.
The grim news was confirmed by Yarrahi’s lawyer, Zahra Minouei, who announced on X that the final part of his sentence had been executed. Yarrahi himself addressed his supporters on Instagram with a powerful message: “You have brought glass to break our stone. Thank you for your constant support, dear ones, and the sincere companionship of the respected lawyers Mustafa Nili and Zahra Minoui. He who is not willing to pay the price of freedom does not deserve freedom. Wishing you freedom.” His words were a defiant reminder that, even in the face of physical torment, the fight for freedom endures.
The international response was fierce. Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi condemned the lashes as a “revenge for his support for the women of Iran.” She likened the flogging to a “whip on the proud, resistant women of Iran and the flourishing and powerful soul of the ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement.” Such reactions underscore that Yarrahi’s punishment was not just about him — it was an attempt to break the spirit of an entire movement.
Masih Alinejad, a US-based human rights activist, added a powerful warning to the West: “For every lash they strike, more women will take off their scarves. More voices will rise. And nothing will stop this revolution.” She cautioned against negotiating with Iran’s regime, likening it to a “virus” that would spread if not confronted. Alinejad’s words captured the growing sense that Yarrahi’s punishment would only strengthen the movement rather than suppress it.
Shockingly, Yarrahi’s case is not an isolated incident. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 131 individuals were sentenced to a total of 9,957 lashes by the Iranian judiciary in 2024 alone. This brutal practice remains a terrifying weapon in the regime’s arsenal. Mehdi Yarrahi’s harrowing ordeal has become a rallying cry for those who believe that art, resistance, and freedom cannot be lashed into silence.
