Iran firing squad executes man who raped 17 children

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

TEHRAN (AFP) — An Iranian firing squad on Saturday executed a man who raped 17 children, the Fars news agency reported, in a rare use of this method of capital punishment which is usually carried out by hanging.

The man, identified as Reza Sharifi, was executed in the central city of Mobarakeh in Isfahan province for raping the children aged between seven and 11, the report said.

He preyed upon elementary school pupils by deceiving them and saying he would take them home. Then he would take his victims into nearby gardens and rape them before leaving them on the streets.

Iran has now put to death 25 convicts this year, according to media reports. At least 298 people were executed in 2007, according to an AFP count.

The number of executions soared...