Iranian authorities have executed a man in public after he was found guilty of raping and murdering a young girl in Bukan City, northwestern Iran.
The execution, which was carried out on Saturday, July 12, 2025, followed a court ruling in March that sentenced the man to death. Iran’s top court later upheld the sentence, according to a statement by the judiciary.
Judiciary news outlet Mizan Online reported that the girl’s family requested that the punishment be done in public due to the emotional weight the case carried for both the family and the wider community.
“The case was given special attention due to the emotional impact it had on public opinion,” said Naser Atabati, the provincial chief justice.
Atabati added that the public execution was also supported by local residents who were deeply affected by the crime.
In Iran, crimes like rape and murder are punishable by death, and public hangings are sometimes used in especially serious cases. According to Amnesty International and other rights groups, Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world, second only to China.
