Convicted Murderer Publicly Hanged in Iran

This is the horrifying moment a convicted k!ller is publicly hanged from a crane in Iran in front of a cheering crowd

In graphic pictures and videos, Sajad Molayi Hakani, standing on a platform, is seen blindfolded with a noose around his neck on August 19. The noose is attached to a crane being controlled by another man who appears to be part of the execution team.

The video shows dozens of people, including children, gathered around to watch the execution. As the man is hanged, the crowd can be seen clapping and cheering in delight. He was sentenced to qisas, which means retaliation in kind in Islamic law, for murdering a mother and her three children during a robbery in October. His wife, Masha Akbari, who has also been sentenced to de.ath, is set to be executed in prison at a later date.

Sadrallah Rajaei, the head of the Fars provincial judiciary, said: ‘The qisas sentence of the second defendant in this case who is the wife of the first defendant, will be carried out in prison in the presence of the victims’ next of kin.’ Meanwhile, it was reported on Thursday that the country had publicly executed another convicted murderer by hanging at the scene of his alleged crime. That execution took place at dawn in the city of Kordkuy, Golestan province. Provincial judiciary chief Heidar Asiabi confirmed to the Mizan Online website that the execution was carried out at the ‘scene of the crime and in public.’ According to reports, the man had allegedly killed ‘a couple and a young woman with a hunting knife’ late last year. Public executions in the country are generally rare and reserved for crimes that have caused widespread anger and outrage. However, human rights advocates have said that there has been a huge surge in the last year. The UN Human Rights Office have asked Iran to discontinue the use of the death penalty as punishment. They say there has been a ‘worrying surge in executions’ that has seen at least 612 people killed in the first half of this year alone. In response, Iran countered by saying its use of the de.ath penalty is ‘only’ in ‘the most severe crimes’.