Actor and soccer star in rape case ‘receives 99 lashes as punishment for affair’
Pejman Jamshidi, one of Iran’s biggest stars, has been ordered to receive 99 lashes after a court upheld an “illicit relations” conviction
The actor and former national footballer reportedly had a sentence of 99 lashes officially upheld (Image: IMDb)
An Iranian actor has been sentenced to 99 lashes after the country’s top court upheld a conviction linked to a case that began with rape allegations.
Pejman Jamshidi, who is also a former national footballer, has reportedly had the brutal punishment officially upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran on charges of “illicit relations”.
The case first exploded into public view in October 2025 when Jamshidi, a former Persepolis and Iran “Team Melli” right-winger turned award-winning film star, was arrested after Melika Parsadoust filed a criminal complaint.
Pejman Jamshidi(Image: Wikipedia)
He was initially accused of rape and kidnapping, sparking a huge backlash in Iran’s entertainment world. Jamshidi reportedly left Iran for Canada and Turkey amid the fallout before returning and facing hearings earlier this year.
Jamshidi was acquitted of rape, yet the court ruled an unlawful extramarital relationship had taken place.
The conviction was instead handled under Article 637 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, which criminalises “illicit relations short of adultery” and allows for a penalty of up to 99 lashes, Iran Wire reported.
According to news outlet Emtedad, both the trial court and the Supreme Court imposed the 99-lash sentence solely on Jamshidi.
Melika Parsadoust
Parsadoust stated that the binding decision proves that the “false narratives” surrounding the case were completely baseless, as per Iran Wire.
She said the ruling doesn’t undo the physical and emotional damage she allegedly endured, but that having it confirmed in court that the relationship was “non-consensual” matters hugely to her.
It comes after Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi was sentenced to 74 lashes for performing in a concert two years ago – without a hijab.
Ahmadi’s concert in 2024 was livestreamed on YouTube, the Daily Star previously reported.
She performed haunting, mournful songs to an empty space on a dimly lit stage, decorated only with a large Persian carpet at a traditional caravanserai complex, backed by a pianist, drummer, guitarist and bassist, who were all dressed in black.
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