Arrest and Release of Parastoo Ahmadi at 3 AM Following 'Briefing Session' at Security Police

Despite government media reporting the 'release' of Parastoo Ahmadi by police officials in Mazandaran late yesterday, her lawyer states she was freed at '3 AM'. According to the website affiliated with the Shargh newspaper, the lawyer also mentioned that two male musicians who were arrested were released 'around midnight'. Meanwhile, the Tasnim news agency, close to the IRGC, reported on Sunday evening that Parastoo Ahmadi, who was taken to the public security police in Mazandaran, exited the police building after what was termed a 'briefing session'. The new details from the singer's lawyer revealed that while the Islamic Republic police claimed the 'release' of the accused, they were still in custody. According to a report published last night, the police announced that Parastoo Ahmadi is required to refer to the judicial authority to follow up on her case. Earlier, Milad Panahipour, a lawyer, reported on Saturday, December 24, about the arrest of Parastoo Ahmadi in Mazandaran. He stated in an interview with the 'Emteda' Telegram channel about the latest status of Parastoo Ahmadi, the Iranian female singer: '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 is while the judiciary had previously stated that a judicial case was being formed, 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 regard, 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 Emteda, referred to the latest status of the case formed for participants in the 'Caravan Concert' and stated: 'As previously reported 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 on 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 a legal and lawful 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 of the 'Caravan' of 'Parastoo Ahmadi', were arrested. He noted that there is no information available 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 a significant step for the freedom of our land, especially musicians and particularly male singers.' Ronaghi Maleki wrote to them: 'For forty-five years, women artists have been suppressed, and all arenas are at your disposal. You have a historical duty to stand for the freedom of women who have been removed from artistic stages and arenas.' Additionally, the Iran Human Rights Campaign on the social network X emphasized that 'the responsibility for any arbitrary arrests, baseless case formations, and potential judicial condemnations rests with the authorities of the Islamic Republic, and all agents of 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 Islamic Republic's judiciary and their desperation in the face of brave, independent, and protesting artists.' Meanwhile, the news of the arrest 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. On the other hand, reports indicate that all of Parastoo Ahmadi's Instagram posts were deleted following her arrest. The performance of this concert in one of Iran's caravanserais by Parastoo Ahmadi on Wednesday, December 21, without mandatory hijab and its live broadcast 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 reported by several media outlets worldwide. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated after this concert, which has had over 1.4 million viewers so far, that following the publication of 'a hypothetical concert in a caravanserai' shared on social media, where 'a group is performing a piece of music with a woman singing 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 their new song.