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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
40 minutes ago
- Arab News
Lebanese army carries out special operation, eliminates 3 notorious drug lords in Baalbek
BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army Command confirmed on Wednesday the death of three of the country's most notorious and dangerous drug traffickers, who were killed during an armed clash between army units and the wanted individuals in Baalbek. The security operation, hailed by Lebanese media as 'a major milestone in the war on drugs' and 'a clear message to fugitives that the era of impunity is nearing its end,' took place less than 24 hours after the Cabinet instructed 'the army to develop a plan for seizing illegal weapons by year's end and submit it to the government by the end of August. The Army Command announced in a statement that 'during the pursuit of a vehicle carrying wanted members of the Zeaiter family in the Sharawneh neighborhood of Baalbek, a clash broke out between the suspects and army units, resulting in their deaths.' The individuals have been identified as Ali Monzer Zeaiter, Abbas Ali Saadoun Zeaiter, and Fayyad Salem Zeaiter and were wanted for a series of serious crimes, including the killing of soldiers, kidnapping, armed assaults on army posts and patrols, and armed robbery. The Directorate of Orientation reported that 'the wanted individuals had been involved for years in large-scale drug trafficking across multiple Lebanese regions, contributing to the rise of crime and drawing thousands, especially youth, into lives of crime.' It added that previous operations to bring the individuals to justice failed, with some resulting in injuries among its soldiers. The Army Command denied reports that homes or relatives of the wanted individuals, or any residents, had been targeted during the operation. It also refuted claims of any clashes between residents and army personnel. Baalbek is predominantly influenced by powerful tribal families, many of which have historically served as a supportive base for Hezbollah. Some wanted individuals have long been shielded by both the party and their tribal affiliations. Sharawneh, the Baalbek neighborhood targeted in the army raid, has become a refuge for dozens of wanted arms and drug traffickers, many equipped with rockets and machine guns. The area is notoriously difficult for security forces to access, operating as a closed zone under the influence of complex and deeply rooted tribal influence. Eyewitnesses in the city reported that the army 'deployed drones during the operation to conduct precision strikes in the area.' Ali Monzer, regarded as one of the most powerful figures in the Bekaa Valley's drug trade, is infamous for repeatedly evading security prosecution. He was wanted on hundreds of arrest warrants for crimes including drug trafficking, armed assaults, and kidnappings. Around five years ago, he moved to Baalbek's Sharawneh neighborhood. A military source revealed: 'The operation was the result of meticulous surveillance of his movements. The aim was not only to capture him, but also to deliver a significant blow to the drug networks that have entrenched themselves in the Sharawneh neighborhood.' The kingpin was previously involved in a 2022 armed attack on a Lebanese army patrol, which left a sergeant dead and several others wounded. During that raid, Ali Monzer sustained two gunshot wounds but managed to escape despite his critical injuries. On July 24, the army tracked him using a drone, suspecting him to be among a group of wanted individuals fleeing in a four-wheel-drive vehicle through the Bekaa Valley. The drone launched a missile near the vehicle, successfully disabling it. However, he escaped before army forces could reach the scene. On Wednesday, Hezbollah issued a statement rejecting the Cabinet's decision, passed during its Tuesday night session, to restrict the possession of weapons to the state. The party accused Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government of 'committing a major sin by adopting a resolution that strips Lebanon of its ability to resist the Israeli enemy, effectively granting Israel what it failed to achieve through military aggression.' Hezbollah further claimed the decision was driven by pressure from US Envoy Thomas Barrack, calling it 'part of a surrender strategy' and 'a clear betrayal of the core principles of Lebanon's sovereignty.' However, in the same statement, Hezbollah affirmed its 'openness for dialogue aimed at ending Israeli aggression against Lebanon, liberating occupied territories, securing the release of prisoners, rebuilding what was destroyed by the aggression, and contributing to the construction of a strong state.' The party 'expressed its willingness to discuss a national security strategy but emphasized that such discussions must not take place under the threat of aggression,' adding that Tel Aviv 'must first fulfill its obligations.' The group also called on the Lebanese government to 'prioritize all necessary measures to liberate Lebanese territories still under occupation, in accordance with its ministerial declaration.' Meanwhile, Israel continued its strikes on Hezbollah, launching a drone attack on a motorcycle in the town of Touline, killing a child and injuring his father, who were both riding the vehicle. An Israeli airstrike late Tuesday night targeted the Baalbek region deep within Lebanon, reportedly striking 'a vehicle carrying a Hezbollah member.' According to Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee, 'the individual, identified as Hossam Qassem Ghorab, was a Hezbollah operative accused of operating from Lebanese territory to coordinate cells in Syria, planning rocket attacks on the Golan Heights.'
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Meta facing $1bn lawsuit for livestreaming Oct. 7 Hamas attack
LONDON: Survivors and relatives of Israeli victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack have filed a lawsuit against Meta, accusing the American tech giant of enabling and amplifying the atrocities through its platforms. The plaintiffs are seeking nearly 4 billion shekels ($1.17 billion) in damages. The figure comprises 200,000 shekels for each victim whose suffering was broadcast or documented on Meta platforms and 20,000 shekels for every Israeli who was exposed to the footage. The suit, filed with the Tel Aviv District Court, could set a precedent for social media companies. It alleges that Facebook and Instagram became 'a pipeline for terror,' allowing Hamas militants to livestream and upload videos of killings, kidnappings and other atrocities. The plaintiffs claim Meta failed to block or remove the footage in real time and left some content online for hours or even days. Israeli news website Ynet reported that the legal action was initiated by the Idan family, who said Hamas gunmen stormed their home, held them hostage and murdered their eldest daughter, Maayan — all while livestreaming the attack on the mother's Facebook account. The father, Tsachi, was abducted to Gaza and later killed. 'They livestreamed the murder of our daughter, our other children's trauma and our cries for help,' the mother was quoted as saying. 'Facebook and Instagram enabled the broadcast of a brutal terror attack. And Meta is still allowing the footage to circulate.' Another plaintiff said she learned of her grandmother Bracha Levinson's abduction and death only after Hamas uploaded the footage to her Facebook page. The lawsuit also includes claims from members of the public who say they were exposed to graphic and traumatic content simply by logging on to the platforms that day. They accuse Meta of failing to act quickly to protect users from the livestreamed violence. The platforms, they argue, became 'an inseparable part of Hamas' terror infrastructure.' Meta is also accused of violating victims' privacy and dignity, and of profiting from the viral spread of the footage. Plaintiffs argue that the company failed to activate rapid response systems or prevent its algorithms from promoting the violent content. 'Our hearts go out to the families affected by Hamas terrorism,' a Meta spokesperson said, adding that the company had set up dedicated teams working round the clock to remove the content and continued to remove any material that supported or glorified Hamas or the Oct. 7 attack. The case is one of several filed in Israel and the US targeting actors accused of aiding or enabling Hamas propaganda and logistics. Last month, families of more than 120 victims sued the Palestinian Authority, claiming its 'pay-for-slay' policy — providing monthly stipends to convicted attackers or their families — constituted material support for the massacre.
Asharq Al-Awsat
8 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Gaza Civil Defense Says 20 Killed by Overturned Aid Truck
Gaza's civil defense agency said Wednesday that 20 people were killed when an aid truck overturned on a crowd of aid seekers in the central Gaza Strip. "Twenty people were killed and dozens injured around midnight last night in a truck carrying aid overturned... while hundreds of civilians were waiting for aid," the agency's spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told AFP. The incident took place near the Nuseirat refugee camp, as the truck was driving on an unsafe road that Israel had previously bombed, Bassal added. The Israeli military told AFP it was looking into the reports. Hamas accused Israel of forcing truck drivers to take dangerous routes to reach aid distribution centers, and to "intentionally engineer... starvation and chaos." Israel "forces drivers to navigate routes overcrowded with starving civilians who have been waiting for weeks for the most basic necessities," Hamas's media office said in a statement. "This often results in desperate crowds swarming the trucks," it added.
