Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Tehran: Iranian authorities publicly executed a man for the rape and murder of a young girl in the north-western city of Bukan on Saturday. According to the Iranian judiciary's online news outlet Mizan, the execution was carried out at the request of the victim's family, who were involved in the legal proceedings.
The man was sentenced to death in March, and Iran's highest court subsequently upheld the ruling. “The case was given special attention due to the emotional impact it had on public opinion,” Provisional Chief Justice Naser Atabati said.
The case had gained widespread public attention, making it significant in the societal sphere. Under Iranian law, crimes such as murder and rape usually result in the death penalty. In Iran, public executions are not uncommon; they are mostly carried out in cases involving heinous crimes such as murder and rape.
According to human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Iran is among the top countries that award capital punishment for crimes like rape and murder.
A survey conducted by Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and the French organization Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) found that Iran carried out nearly 975 executions in 2024. This has been termed a horrifying escalation of capital punishment in the country.
The report states that out of 975 executions, four were conducted in public, while 31 women were reportedly executed. This marks the highest number in 17 years.
According to Iran's Sharia-based legal system, capital punishment plays a significant role. Crimes such as rape, murder, and drug offenses fall under capital punishment, along with more vaguely defined charges like “corruption on earth” and “rebellion,” which are often used against dissenters.
Recently, Iran also executed a detainee for allegedly being involved with the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, Tasnim news agency reported.
