India, July 12 -- Iranian authorities carried out a public execution on Saturday of a man convicted of raping and murdering a young girl. The victim's family, from the northwestern city of Bukan, was involved in the legal process and had requested the public execution, reported judiciary's Mizan Online news outlet.

"The case was given special attention due to the emotional impact it had on public opinion," an AFP report quoted Naser Atabati, the provincial chief justice, as saying.

Earlier in March, the man was sentenced to death and the ruling was later upheld by Iran's highest court.

The execution was conducted in public "at the request of the victim's family and citizens, due to the emotional effect the case had on society," Atabati...