Iran publicly executes man for child rape, murder

Iranian authorities publicly executed a man Saturday after he was convicted of raping and murdering a young girl, the judiciary announced.

According to Mizan Online, the judiciary's news website, the victim's family from Bukan, a city in northwestern Iran, participated in the trial and called for a public execution.

Nasser Atabati, the provincial chief justice, stated that "the case received special attention due to the emotional impact it had on public opinion."

The death sentence was issued in March and later upheld by the country's Supreme Court.

Atabati explained that the execution was carried out publicly "at the request of the victim's family and citizens, given the emotional impact the case had on society."

Murder and rape are capital offenses in Iran. The country ranks second globally in the number of executions, trailing only China, according to human rights organizations including Amnesty International.