Farid Baghlani

Farid Baghlani (1968 – 13 November 2010), known as The Cyclist Killer, was an Iranian serial killer who killed 15 women and girls, as well as one boy, in the cities of Abadan and Khorramshahr between 2004 and 2008. Claiming that he had done it out of a hatred towards women, he was sentenced to death and subsequently executed for his crimes in 2010.

Early life Baghlani was born in 1968 in Abadan. Little is known about his upbringing, aside from the fact that he was raised by mother and grandfather. According to Farid, he believed that his mother was actually his cousin for the first few years of his life, and even after learning the truth, their relationship was strained, as she often emotionally abused him. Over the years, his misogynistic impulses grew, eventually leading to two assault convictions: one in 1995, for which he served a year, and another in 1999, for which he served four.

In the subsequent interrogations, Baghlani admitted to beating Fawzia, and after evidence pointing towards him as being the elusive Cyclist Killer, he eventually confessed to the 16 murders over the last four years. Baghlani even pointed out mistakes the media had when reporting on the killings and correctly reconstructed the crime scene for each murder. Baghlani explained that he had done this out of hatred towards the weaker sex and that after each murder, he felt a little guilt, but it wasn't sufficient to prevent him from committing more.

Following a preliminary psychiatric exam, which deemed him sane to stand trial, he was brought to trial and charged with the murders. Faced with a likely death penalty, Baghlani recanted his confessions, claiming he had been tortured into signing the confessions by police officials. His claims weren't taken seriously, and he was sentenced to death.

Execution On 13 November 2010, Farid Baghlani was hanged in Karun Prison in Ahvaz, with the execution witnessed by his parents.