Iran executes man in public over child's rape, murder

The victim's family, from the northwestern city of Bukan, had been involved in the legal proceedings and requested the public execution, according to the judiciary's Mizan Online news website.

"The case was given special attention due to the emotional impact it had on public opinion," Mizan quoted the provincial chief justice, Naser Atabati, as saying.

The death sentence was issued in March and later upheld by the Islamic republic's top court.

The execution was carried out in public "at the request of the victim's family and citizens, due to the emotional impact the case had on society", Atabati said.

Public executions, typically by hanging, are not uncommon in Iran but do occur in cases deemed especially severe.

Murder and rape are punishable by death in Iran, the world's second most prolific executioner after China, according to human rights groups including Amnesty International.