TEHRAN, Iran — An individual in Iran, found guilty of raping numerous women over the last twenty years, has been executed publicly, as reported by state media on Wednesday.
The IRAN newspaper, owned by the state, detailed that Mohammad Ali Salamat was hanged following the confirmation of his death penalty by Iran’s Supreme Court earlier in October. This execution took place early on Tuesday at a cemetery located in the western city of Hamedan.
Allegations surfaced against Salamat, a 43-year-old who owned a pharmacy and operated a gym, with around 200 women coming forward accusing him of rape. The rapes reportedly occurred over the span of two decades.
Iranian media relayed that Salamat often assaulted women after initially proposing marriage or engaging in courtship. There are accusations that he provided certain victims with abortion pills, which are illegal within the country.
Salamat’s apprehension occurred in January, marking the largest case of sexual assault linked to one perpetrator in Iranian history. Following his capture, a significant number of citizens converged outside the city’s justice department, demanding the death penalty for Salamat.
According to reports from U.N. experts in September, Iran ranks amongst the nations with the highest rates of executions globally. The rising frequency of executions within the country has sparked considerable criticism from various human rights organizations.
In Iran, both rape and adultery are capital offenses. Historical cases include the public execution of a 24-year-old man in 2005 for the rape and murder of twenty children and the hanging of a 28-year-old in 1997 for the abduction, rape, and killing of nine females in Tehran.