Iranian woman kills 11 husbands over 22 years in shocking serial murder case

Dubai: An Iranian woman appeared before a revolutionary court this week, accused of orchestrating one of the most extensive serial murder cases in the country’s history, Iran Wire reported.

Prosecutors say the woman, identified as Kulthum Akbari, commonly known in the Iranian media as the ‘Black Widow, confessed to killing 11 of her husbands over a span of 22 years to seize their money and property.

Akbari’s alleged killing spree began in 2000. She reportedly targeted elderly men, married them, and slowly poisoned them using a combination of diabetes medications, stimulants, and in some cases, industrial alcohol. “The defendant was skilled at covering her tracks,” prosecutors told the court. “Most of the victims appeared to have died of natural causes due to their age and chronic illnesses, allowing her to continue for decades without raising suspicion.”

Her final alleged victim, Azizollah Babaei, died in 2023. But suspicions raised by Babaei’s son led to a police investigation that ultimately resulted in Akbari’s arrest.

Akbari has confessed to killing 11 men and attempting to kill another, according to court documents. Prosecutors say she meticulously planned each murder, monitoring her victims’ health and selecting the precise moment to act, so as to avoid detection.

During the hearing, the families of four victims called for Akbari to be sentenced to death. More than 45 individuals have joined the case as plaintiffs.

Akbari faces 11 charges of premeditated murder and one charge of attempted murder. A verdict is expected following the conclusion of the remaining hearings in a case that has drawn intense attention from both Iranian and international media.