This image is a composite of two real, but unrelated, photos.
The Man in the Image
The man is Majid Kavousifar, who was publicly executed by hanging in Tehran, Iran, on August 2, 2007.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
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Context: He and his nephew were convicted of assassinating Judge Hassan Moghaddas in 2005.
Why he is smiling: Reports from the time state he was smiling and waving to his nephew to reassure him before they were both executed.
Misinformation: This photo is frequently used in hoaxes, falsely claiming he was an "Algerian hacker" or a "Christian martyr".
AFP Fact Check
AFP Fact Check
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The Little Girl
The image of the girl is often digitally edited into the frame to create a more emotional scene.
The Girl's Identity: While some viral posts claim she is Kavousifar's daughter, there is no credible evidence to support this.
Origin: The photo of the girl was originally published in 2007 and shows a child who was part of the crowd watching the public execution. She was not standing directly in front of him as the edited image suggests.
Information regarding the history of public executions in Iran or the specific details of the 2007 case is available upon request.
