Arrest and Release of Parastoo Ahmadi After 'Briefing Session' at Security Police

Tasnim News Agency, close to the IRGC, reported that Parastoo Ahmadi, who was taken to the public security police in Mazandaran, was released after what has been described as a 'briefing session.' According to this report, the police announced that she is required to refer to the judicial authority for further proceedings. Earlier, Milad Panahipour, a lawyer, reported on Saturday, December 24, about the arrest of Parastoo Ahmadi in Mazandaran. In a conversation with the Telegram channel 'Emtedad,' he stated: 'We had no information about the status of my client, Ms. Parastoo Ahmadi, since noon today, and unfortunately, we learned that she was arrested today in Mazandaran. This happened at a time when the judiciary had previously mentioned the formation of a judicial case, and we were waiting for the legal process to unfold.' Milad Panahipour stated: 'Unfortunately, we have no information about the charges against Ms. Ahmadi, the detaining authority, or her place of detention, but we will pursue the matter through legal channels.' In this context, the human rights organization 'Hengaw' reported that Parastoo Ahmadi, a 27-year-old singer from Nowshahr, was arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Mazandaran and transferred to an unknown location. Milad Panahipour, in his conversation with Emtedad, referred to the latest status of the case formed for participants in the 'Caravan Concert,' stating: 'As previously announced by the judiciary, a judicial case has been formed for all these individuals, including my client, Ms. Parastoo Ahmadi. We were waiting for the legal process, but unfortunately, this afternoon, two musicians, Mr. Ehsan Biraqdar and Soheil Faghih Nasiri, were arrested at their training center in Tehran.' He emphasized: 'We are trying to understand the reasons for the arrest of these individuals and the detaining authority, but currently, we have no information about these matters or even the charges against these individuals.' This defense lawyer pointed out that 'this arrest occurred without prior notification or summons to the judicial authority' and added: 'We were hopeful for the legal process, which unfortunately was abruptly interrupted by the arrest of two musicians.' Previously, Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, a civil and human rights activist in Iran, reported that 'Soheil Faghih Nasiri' and 'Ehsan Biraqdar,' musicians from the hypothetical concert at the caravanserai of 'Parastoo Ahmadi,' were arrested. He noted that there is no information regarding the status of 'Amin Taheri' and 'Amir Ali Pirnia,' other musicians of this group. This civil and human rights activist wrote in another post on the social network 'X': 'Parastoo Ahmadi and her group of musicians are the voice of the Iranian people and must be freed.' He emphasized that 'Parastoo and her accompanying musicians have committed no crime' and added: 'This is a point where we must stand alongside those who have consciously and courageously chosen to take an important step for the freedom of our land, especially musicians and particularly male singers.' Mr. Ronaghi Maleki addressed them: 'For forty-five years, women artists have been suppressed, and all fields are in your hands. You have a historical duty to stand for the freedom of women who have been erased from artistic scenes and fields.' The Iran Human Rights Campaign on the social network X, referring to the arrest of 'Parastoo Ahmadi, the protesting artist,' emphasized that 'the responsibility for any arbitrary arrests, baseless case formations, and potential judicial convictions lies with the officials of the Islamic Republic, and all factors behind such repressive actions must be identified and held accountable.' The campaign added: 'The arbitrary arrest of Soheil Faghih Nasiri and Ehsan Biraqdar, two musicians from Parastoo Ahmadi's concert, reflects the fearful reaction of the Iranian judicial system and their desperation against brave, independent, and protesting artists.' Meanwhile, news of the arrests of Ms. Ahmadi and Messrs. Faghih Nasiri and Biraqdar has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many criticizing this action by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Additionally, reports indicate that all of Parastoo Ahmadi's Instagram posts were deleted following her arrest. The concert featuring Parastoo Ahmadi at a caravanserai in Iran, held on Wednesday, December 21, without mandatory hijab and broadcast live on YouTube, became one of the most viewed events reflected in Iranian social media, garnering attention and praise from many social media users. This concert has also been covered by several media outlets worldwide. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated after this concert, which has so far attracted over 1.4 million viewers, that following the publication of 'a hypothetical concert in a caravanserai' shared on social media, 'in which a group is performing a piece of music with a female singer without adhering to legal and religious standards, a judicial case has been formed.' Samin and Behin Balouri, musicians and singers, expressed their support for Parastoo Ahmadi by releasing a new song.