Bible and the Headlines: News You Can Use

By Editor | June 24, 2026

Long Lashes

By David Bachelor, PhD

When people feel powerless and overworked in big corporations, sometimes a rebel will express the collective frustration by posting the meme, “Floggings will continue until morale improves.” An incident making headlines shows that in one country the leadership has missed the sarcasm.

The Guardian on June 18^th published, “Iranian Star Parastoo Ahmadi Reportedly Sentenced to 74 Lashes for Singing without Hijab.” The case was brought after the singer’s production team released a video in 2024 that went viral. The Guardian reported, “The criminal court of Qom province sentenced the artists to flogging, a two-year ban on leaving the country and a two-year ban on engaging in artistic activities on charges that include offending public decency.” Ms. Ahmadi was wearing a full-length evening gown, but her hair was uncovered.

The news website IranWire on June 18^th released, “Iranian Singer and Her Band Sentenced to 74 Lashes for Releasing Music Video.” The sentence was based on the requirements of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code and civil Computer Crimes Law. The article notes, “The judge treated the roles of the musicians, production crew, videographers, and other personnel as part of a collective act, extending criminal liability to all participants.” While the recording session only contained the singer and eight male production team, the posting of the session on the internet made the video subject to public decency laws.

Abu Dhabi-based website The National News on June 19^th carried, “Iranian Singer and Team Sentenced to Lashes and Work Ban Over Audience-Less Concert.” At the “concert,” not only was the artist’s hair and shoulders visible, she was alone onstage. The reporter commented, “Iran has mandated head coverings for women in public and banned them from singing solo in public.” A human rights group asserted, “… the use of lashing … [is] mostly deployed against political activists and ethnic minorities.”

The Old Testament features judicial flogging as a possible punishment in Deuteronomy 25. However, there was a limit to the number of lashes given, “The judge must not impose more than forty lashes. If the guilty party is flogged more than that, your fellow Israelite will be degraded in your eyes” (Deu 25:3). The Apostle Paul was subjected to this punishment on five occasions (2Co 11:24). Three other times he was beaten with rods (2Co 11:25). His crime was preaching the Gospel (2Co 11:7).

Jesus also knew that He would face the judicial lash. He told His disciples, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law … who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him” (Mar 10:33-34). It happened just as Jesus said (Mar 15:15).

In Iran, the impending 74 lashes has caused the singer’s hijab-less video to be viewed by millions of people. The actual lashes that fell on Jesus’ back had an even more profound effect. The Bible tells us, “By His stripes we are healed. ” (Isa 53:5). Jesus healed us and saved us. There is no more need for flogging, our morale has improved!

Posted in Lifestyles