Man Executed in Tehran for Injuring 59 Women with a Bludgeon

The Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, reports that a man who injured "59 women and girls using a bludgeon" in Tehran has been executed. On Wednesday, December 19, the agency identified the man as "Rastgooi Kandalaj" and stated that he approached women from behind while covering his head and face on a motorcycle, injuring them with a "bludgeon" before fleeing the scene. Mr. Kandalaj was arrested in November 2018 following complaints from some of the injured women. He was charged by the court with "corruption on earth through terror and fear against women" and was sentenced to death and ordered to pay blood money. In a previous interview published in Iranian media, Kandalaj stated that he carried out these attacks because he had "no joy from women." He mentioned that his wife left him after four years of marriage, which led him to decide to "take revenge on all young girls and women." Kandalaj claimed he would roam empty streets and attack women or girls whom he deemed to have "inappropriate clothing or appearance" with a bludgeon. Despite protests from many political and civil activists against the death penalty, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic frequently issues death sentences for many ordinary criminals and political prisoners on charges of "corruption on earth." In this context, Iranian media reported last week on the execution of a man in Hamadan province who was convicted in "200" cases of "harassment" and "rape." Although a number of people are executed annually in Iran for committing this crime, this is one of the most extensive cases related to sexual harassment of women in Iran.