Iran Supreme Court Confirms 99 Lashes for Actor Pejman Jamshidi

The sentence of 99 lashes against actor Pejman Jamshidi has been upheld by judges of the Supreme Court and forwarded to the Sentence Enforcement Bureau for execution.

Jamshidi was sentenced to 99 lashes in connection with a case concerning allegations of sexual assault.

Media outlet Emtedad previously reported, citing complainant Melika Parsadoost, that Branch 9 of Tehran’s Criminal Court I issued the initial ruling. Following an appeal, Branch 29 of the Supreme Court affirmed the verdict in full.

According to the report, charges of “illicit relationship” were reviewed under Article 637 of the Islamic Penal Code (Discretionary Punishments/Ta’zirat), which prescribes up to 99 lashes for non-marital sexual relations.

Following the finalization of the sentence, Parsadoost stated that the verdict proves that “false media narratives” surrounding the case lacked foundation. She emphasized that she has characterized the event as “sexual violence” from the outset and refused to allow the incident to be redefined by alternative narratives.

Addressing the challenges of proving sexual violence in Iran, the complainant noted that the court’s legal recognition of a relationship occurring “without consent and involving coercion and force” remains significant for her and other women who have faced similar experiences.

While expressing her personal opposition to bodily punishment, Parsadoost confirmed that she would follow the legal process through to its conclusion.