National Music Council speaks out on sentencing of songwriter Paratoo Ahmadi

June, 2026 -- On June 19, an Iranian court handed down a sentence of 74 lashes for Iranian singer-songwriter Parastoo Ahmadi's performance outside of a hijab. Her bandmates and producer received the same sentence.

Outside Counsel and National Music Council Chair Charlie Sanders recently wrote a piece speaking out against the violent sentencing. His piece follows. But first, a note from the SGA.

The Songwriters Guild of America stands in full solidarity with the National Music Council regarding the ongoing violation of human rights suffered by artists, musicians and poets in Iran and around the world. But we also wish to make it clear that we post this statement with clear eyes: the United States has recently engaged in acts of war against Iran and we do not set that aside. The Guild does not conflate governments with their people, nor with their artists. Iranian songwriters, musicians and poets have for years faced arrest, torture, forced confession and enforced silence — not for bearing arms, but for bearing witness through their art. The persecution of creative voices is a human rights crisis that exists independent of military conflict and demands its own condemnation. The Songwriters Guild of America calls on all parties — including our own government — to recognize artists as human rights defenders and to cease all actions, military or governmental, that endanger civilian life and the freedom of creative expression.

Now on to Charlie's powerfully-written piece:

Charlie Sanders
SGA Outside Counsel

The National Music Council of the United States (NMC), which I proudly chair, continues to monitor developments in the case of the female Iranian singing star Parastoo Ahmadi who was sentenced this week by Tehran to a public whipping for appearing in a video in "immodest attire" (i.e. without a head scarf and with bare arms and shoulders). 

The song she sang, perversely, expressed her love for her nation of Iran. It did not matter. The ruling parties have determined that a message needs to be sent, and that the lashing of a celebrated performer is what is called for.

The singling out of popular musical artists and poets for punishment by governmental regimes has a very long history, for two simple reasons: First, it presents despots across the political spectrum with the golden opportunity to demonstrate their alleged willingness to attack anyone at any time, a statement to "the people" that "if this is what we'll do to them, imagine what we'll do to you."

And second, it is intended to cow and often to eliminate through intimidation and fear the most dangerous, effective opposition any would-be dictator is ever likely to face: a country's own artistic creators.

There are reasons why Gen. Augusto Pinochet of Chile chose as the first victims of his murderous junta the singer-songwriter Victor Jara (executed in the national soccer stadium after having his hands mutilated) and world renown poet Pablo Neruda (an outspoken critic of military dictatorships). There are reasons why Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge set upon and murdered nearly every musician and poet in Cambodia, and why both Shostakovich and Pussy Riot were respectively brutalized by the purveyors of Soviet and Russian oppression. And there is a reason why Billie Holiday was hounded to her death right here at home. NMC takes no political position on these matters other than this: protecting the value to global culture of musicians, songwriters, composers, poets and other creators by shielding them insofar as possible from violent repression is paramount to our mission. Shining a light on such incidents --so that acts of violent intimidation cannot be carried out in the shadows-- is the role of any organization dedicated to furthering the advancement of art, artists, and the more humane world we are all seeking to build. 

And so we shall. 

For a longer explanation of the history of global artistic repression in the realm of music, visit the NMC website and read the expose I wrote in 2023 on this crucial topic.