A prominent Iranian tech CEO has been sentenced to 74 lashes and had his company’s business license revoked after authorities accused the firm of hosting a mixed-gender party where women appeared without hijabs.
Nima Ashrafzadeh is CEO of Iranian e-commerce platform Pindo, a subsidiary of Iran's top online retailer Digikala.
The internal celebration at Pindo last December was reportedly deemed by authorities to have violated public morality codes because men and women attended together and some women appeared unveiled, according to Tehran-based tech outlet Digiato.
Yalda Night, an ancient Persian festival marking the year’s longest night, is traditionally celebrated in Iran with gatherings of family and friends, poetry readings, and fruit such as pomegranates and watermelon.
Digikala co-founder Hamid Mohammadi confirmed the sentence on the social platform X, saying the verdict had become final. He called it “unbelievable” and said it sends a “discouraging message” to those working in Iran’s digital economy.
“A few weeks ago, leaders of the digital economy were invited to meetings with the president and the heads of all three branches of government, where we heard promises of support,” Mohammadi wrote on Tuesday. “Today, the CEO of Pindo has been sentenced to 74 lashes, and the company’s license has been revoked.”
Mohammadi described the punishment as evidence of “a deep gap between official words and action,” saying it reflects growing uncertainty for Iran’s private sector and tech entrepreneurs.
Part of broader hijab crackdown
The case comes amid a renewed campaign by Iranian authorities to enforce mandatory hijab laws in both public and private settings. Earlier this month, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said “the current situation cannot continue,” announcing new coordination between police, prosecutors, and regulators to address what he called “social disorders” linked to hijab violations.
Ejei said intelligence agencies had been ordered to identify “organized promoters of improper hijab,” and warned that restaurants, cafés, and companies could face permanent closure if violations occurred on their premises. Government institutions, he added, would also be held responsible for “unlawful behavior” at official events.
The judiciary statement followed a letter from 155 lawmakers urging tougher enforcement, accusing the courts of passivity toward noncompliance and demanding “consistent application of existing regulations.”
Despite these pressures, many women in major Iranian cities continue to appear unveiled in public spaces, and videos circulating online show mixed gatherings, music, and casual dress — a sign of ongoing defiance amid an intensifying state crackdown.
