An appeals court in Tehran has overturned a four-year jail term for singer Hiwa Sefizadeh, acquitting her of charges of "inciting corruption and prostitution" and replacing the sentence with a fine and community service. The punishment stemmed from a February 2025 concert of classical Persian music that was broken up by security forces. The original prison term sparked criticism from cultural figures, who argue there is no blanket religious-legal ban on women singing in Iran. The ruling underscores ongoing tensions between artistic expression and official restrictions.
Tehran Appeals Court Overturns Four-Year Jail Term for Singer Hiwa Sefizadeh
FILE PHOTO - A participant in a demonstration against the Iranian regime in March 2026 displays the victory sign near the Israeli embassy in Berlin against the backdrop of Iranian flags. (is associated with: «Iranian court overturns prison sentence for female singer») Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
An appeals court in Tehran has overturned a four-year prison sentence previously imposed on singer Hiwa Sefizadeh, the Iranian news website Avash reported. The court acquitted her of charges that she had "incited corruption and prostitution."
Instead of imprisonment, judges imposed a fine equivalent to just over $200 and ordered three months of community service, finding a breach of "public morality." The penalty relates to a February 2025 concert in which Sefizadeh and a band performed classical Persian music until security forces broke up the event.
Reaction And Context
Sefizadeh shared an update from her lawyer on Instagram confirming the reduced sentence. In a post she re-shared, the singer wrote:
"Hoping for the day when no voice will be silenced anymore."
The original four-year prison sentence drew widespread criticism from artists and cultural figures inside Iran. Hamid Reza Noorbakhsh, director of the House of Music artists' association, voiced support for the singer and said: "We have so many good female singers, and so many valuable works have been created." He added that, in his view, there is no religious-legal regulation in Iran that fundamentally and without exception forbids women from singing.
Significance
Public performances by female singers are generally restricted in Iran, and the case highlighted ongoing tensions between cultural expression and official restrictions. The appeals court's decision to remove the prison term and substitute a fine and community service will be watched closely by artists and rights advocates.
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