Iran executes man in public over killing of physician

Iranian authorities executed a man in public on Tuesday after he was convicted of murdering a physician in the southwest of the country, the judiciary reported.

According to Mizan Online, the official judiciary outlet, the qisas (retribution) sentence for the killing of Dr. Davoudi was carried out in Yasuj, the capital of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. The verdict followed a mental health evaluation of the defendant and was upheld by the Supreme Court.

Provincial prosecutor Vahid Mousavian said the execution was intended as “a message to those who seek to disturb the security of society and citizens,” according to Mizan.

Iran carries out executions primarily by hanging and is considered the world’s second-highest executor after China, according to rights organizations including Amnesty International. While most hangings occur in prisons, occasional public executions still take place.

SR