Mohammad Ali Salamat, an Iranian man convicted of raping dozens of women over the last two decades, was publicly executed on Tuesday in the city of Hamedan. State media confirmed that Salamat, aged 43, was hanged at dawn after Iran’s Supreme Court upheld his death sentence in October. The execution took place in a cemetery, marking the culmination of a lengthy legal process.
Salamat, who operated a pharmacy and gym in Hamedan, faced accusations from approximately 200 women who claimed he raped them over a period of 20 years. His methods often involved proposing marriage or courting his victims before assaulting them. Additionally, reports suggest that he provided abortion pills to some victims, an illegal act in Iran, deepening the gravity of his offenses.
Iran Executes Mohammad Ali Salamat for Raping Dozens of Women Over Two Decades
His arrest in January followed what is believed to be the largest number of rape cases ever attributed to a single individual in Iran. In the wake of his capture, public protests erupted in Hamedan, with hundreds of people demanding that Salamat face the death penalty. This widespread demand for his execution was a response to the perceived severity of his crimes and the public’s desire for justice.
Executions in Iran, particularly for crimes like rape and adultery, are relatively common. The country is among the world’s leading executioners, with the United Nations highlighting its high execution rates.
Human rights organizations have condemned the increasing use of the death penalty, but Iran continues to carry out executions for severe crimes. Salamat’s case mirrors other notorious instances in Iran’s history, such as the 2005 execution of a man who raped and murdered 20 children.
