Iran has publicly executed a man convicted of raping and murdering a young girl. The judiciary stated that the death penalty was carried out in a public space due to the deep emotional impact the incident had on society and at the request of the victim’s family.

The convicted man had raped and killed a young girl in the city of Bukan, located in northwestern Iran. The victim’s family remained involved throughout the judicial process and ultimately demanded the execution be carried out publicly.

Provincial judge Naser Atabati said, “The incident generated widespread outrage and emotional response among the public, making a public execution necessary.”

The death sentence was initially handed down in March, and Iran’s Supreme Court later upheld the verdict.

Iran’s legal system prescribes the death penalty for serious crimes such as murder and rape. In highly sensitive and severe cases like this, the punishment is executed by public hanging.

According to international human rights organizations, Iran ranks second only to China in the number of executions carried out annually.