An Iranian woman accused of killing 11 husbands over a span of 22 years appeared in court this week in what is being described as one of the country’s most shocking serial murder cases.
According to prosecutors, the accused, Kulthum Akbari, allegedly married elderly men and administered lethal doses of a combination of diabetes medication and sexual enhancement drugs. In some cases, she is accused of using industrial alcohol. Authorities believe the killings began in 2000 and went undetected for decades due to the victims’ pre-existing health conditions, which initially led to their deaths being ruled as natural.
The case gained national attention in 2023 following the death of Azizollah Babaei. Suspicion was raised by his son, who recalled that Babaei had previously been married to Akbari and survived an earlier attempt on his life. Babaei’s family identified her as his last wife, prompting an official investigation.
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During interrogation, court records state, Akbari confessed to murdering 11 husbands and attempting to kill another. Prosecutors allege she was motivated by the desire to acquire her victims’ wealth and property.
At Wednesday’s hearing at the Sari Revolutionary Court, families of four victims demanded her execution under Islamic law. More than 45 plaintiffs are currently participating in the case.
While Akbari’s lawyer argued for a mental health evaluation, one plaintiff dismissed the claim, stating that the calculated nature of the crimes demonstrated clear intent.
The indictment against Akbari includes 11 counts of premeditated murder and one count of attempted murder. The court is expected to issue a verdict once proceedings conclude.
