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"I don't know how many people I killed..." - Iran's "Black Widow" sentenced to death for killing 11 elderly men for wealth

2026-08-16 16:10:20Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Kolshoum Akbari

One of the darkest cases of serial killings in Iran has shocked public opinion.

Kolshoum Akbari, known in Iranian media as the "Black Widow," has been sentenced to death after being found guilty of the murders of 11 elderly men and one attempted murder.

According to investigations, the woman's criminal activity is suspected to have lasted for more than two decades, from the early 2000s until her arrest in 2023.

Her victims were mostly elderly men, many of them widowed or living alone, with no close relatives nearby. Akbar allegedly gained their trust, married them and then, within a short period of time, poisoned them.

She has confessed to at least 11 murders, while during interrogation she is said to have left open the possibility that the number of victims was even higher.

"I don't know how many people I killed. It was probably 13 or 15 people. I don't remember exactly," she is quoted as saying.

According to Iranian authorities, Akbari used a combination of substances, including tranquilizers, diabetes medication, industrial alcohol and other preparations.

He allegedly gave the substances directly to his victims or mixed them with food and drinks, such as soup and tea.

After consuming them, the men began to exhibit severe symptoms, including nausea, loss of consciousness, and difficulty breathing.

Since the victims were elderly and in many cases had health problems, the deterioration of their condition was often attributed to age or existing illnesses.

In some cases, they were treated in hospitals for heart problems or diabetes and, after death, family members and doctors suspected natural causes.

The fact that the victims lived in different cities allegedly helped Akbar evade suspicion for a long period.

The case came to light in 2023, after the death of her last husband, an 82-year-old man.

Before he died, the old man had told his children that Akbar forced him to take heart and blood pressure medication, after which he would repeatedly lose consciousness.

After his death, family members contacted the police and demanded an investigation.

Akbari was arrested in September 2023. Investigators later discovered that she had married several other men and that in many cases the marriages had been followed by their deaths.

The investigation expanded to include deaths that occurred years earlier. Authorities conducted exhumations and new toxicology tests, while doctors who had previously ruled the deaths natural testified in court.

An important element of the issue is the use of "sigheh," a form of temporary marriage recognized by Shiite law in Iran.

According to investigations, Akbari allegedly used this institution to gain access to the private lives, homes and finances of elderly men.

She allegedly convinced some of them to transfer property or vehicles while they were still alive, while also gaining access to their pensions and savings.

At least some of the marriages were permanent, giving her stronger legal rights over property.

According to authorities, she had received a dowry of five billion rials, around 102 thousand euros, from her last husband before his death.

The court found Akbar guilty of 11 counts of intentional murder and one count of attempted murder.

In the Iranian legal system, in such cases, the decision of the victims' families also plays an important role, based on the principle of "retribution".

Ten families demanded her execution, while one family opted for financial compensation, known as "diyya" or "blood money."

As a result, the court handed down ten death sentences, while for the remaining attempted murder, an additional sentence of ten years in prison was given.

The court also ordered the confiscation of her assets. Akbar's lawyers had requested a psychiatric evaluation, raising doubts about her mental state. The court rejected this argument, finding that her long-term and methodical course of action, attempts to conceal the deaths, and financial motive indicated deliberate planning.

The decision may be appealed before it becomes final.

The case has sparked strong reactions in Iran, not only for the number of victims and the alleged duration of the crimes, but also because Akbari is one of the rare cases of a woman accused of serial murder.

The case has also brought temporary marriages, the economic exploitation of the elderly, and the risks faced by people who live alone or have no family nearby back to the center of the debate.

As Iran's population ages, authorities and experts have raised increasing concerns about protecting the elderly from abuse, fraud, and financial exploitation.


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