Iranian pop singer Hiva Seyfizadeh was detained last Thursday during a live show at Emarat Rooberoo, a cultural hall in Tehran, after hosting an illicit concert and performing semi-private female vocals to a crowd of men.
Seyfizadeh’s lawyer Saeed Nemati on Saturday confirmed to state media that she and her traveling companions had been given bail, but the organiser of the concert was still in detention.
The arrest highlights Iran’s strict regulations on female performers. Only female singing in front of mixed-gender audience is not allowed, women are only permitted to sing as group. 
Ahmad Sadri, head of Iran’s Music Office, later stated to the semiofficial Mehr news agency that Emarat Rooberoo acts as multipurpose cultural institution when discussing the crackdown.
Following Seyfizadeh’s arrest, Iran’s cyber police FATA, took charge of both the page of the venue and Seyfizadeh’s personal profile, citing the spread of “offences criminal content” that infringe public morals laws.
This development comes as women’s rights are under further restriction in Iran. In December, another female performer, Parastoo Ahmadi, was arrested over footage of her going without a hijab emerged. The action comes amid the highly criticized 2024 hijab law which imposes serious punishments; lengthy prison time, and potential death sentence for non-compliance.
Seyfizadeh’s arrest has raised new concerns about female artistic freedom in Iran as the government steps up control over art and culture expression.
