(GRAPHIC) Convicted child murderer publicly executed for raping, killing young girl, 3

Hundreds of people gathered in Yemen on Monday morning to watch as authorities opened fire on a man convicted of raping and murdering a 3-year-old girl.

New York Post reports that authorities brought Muhammad al-Maghrabi, 41, to Sanaa’s main square to face the consequences of his monstrous crimes. With his hands cuffed behind his back, al-Maghrabi shuffled his way to center of the square while armed guards surrounded him.

Under Sharia law, people convicted of murder can be punished by death. Although Sharia law doesn’t specify how the death sentence should be carried out, public executions in Yemen are considered legal. According to the U.S. State Department, Sharia law is “the source of all legislation” in Yemen.

As masses of people gathered around to watch the public execution, a number of them pulled out their cellphones and recorded a police officer using an assault rifle to fire five bullets into al-Maghrabi’s back, as he lay on the ground. Other people climbed and perched on telephone poles to watch the shooting. Many shouted profanities at the suspect in outrage, given the young age of the victim.

Security packed in tight before and during the execution, in fear that the public would attack the suspect in retaliation before the execution.

Yahya al-Matari, the little girl’s father, was also present during the execution. Afterwards, he said he felt “reborn.”