Court orders confiscation of Kolthoum Akbari’s property as families receive 20 days to appeal murder verdict
TEHRAN: An Iranian court has sentenced 56-year-old Kolthoum Akbari, widely described in local media as Iran’s “Black Widow,” to death after authorities accused her of killing 12 of her 13 husbands.
The Mazandaran Judiciary’s public relations office announced the verdict through Iranian state media, saying the court also ordered the confiscation of Akbari’s property.
According to reports, only one victim’s family has forgiven Akbari, while another family has indicated it would grant forgiveness after receiving diyah, or blood money.
Meanwhile, Akbari and the victims’ families have 20 days to file appeals before a higher court. The ruling will become final after the appeals process concludes.
2023 Arrest Uncovered Series of Suspicious Deaths
Police arrested Akbari in September 2023 after relatives of her 82-year-old temporary husband accused her of murdering him.
Before his death, the elderly man reportedly told his children that Akbari forced him to take heart and blood-pressure medication that repeatedly caused him to lose consciousness.
Consequently, his children approached police after his death and demanded an investigation.
Investigators subsequently discovered that Akbari had married several men previously and that the marriages repeatedly ended with their deaths.
Prosecutors Say Killings Began in 2000
Authorities said Akbari eventually confessed to killing the 82-year-old man and 11 other husbands in cases dating back to 2000.
According to investigators, she temporarily married her alleged victims and usually lived with them for two or three months before poisoning them with medication.
She allegedly administered pills directly or dissolved medicines in their drinks.
Temporary marriage, known as sigheh or mut’ah, remains legally recognised in Iran and requires an agreed duration and dowry.
However, temporary spouses do not automatically inherit from each other under Iranian civil law.
Authorities said Akbari received a five-billion-rial dowry from her final husband before his death.
