Iran’s Black Widow Sentenced to Death for Killing Multiple Husbands

Kolthoum Akbari, a 56-year-old Iranian woman nicknamed the “Black Widow,” faces 10 death sentences after confessing to the murder of at least 10 former husbands. According to the Mazandaran Province Judiciary, Akbari targeted elderly men through temporary marriages over two decades, using sedatives and industrial alcohol to kill them for financial gain.

The scale of the killing spree is still being determined. While Akbari has been sentenced for 10 murders, the Mazandaran Province public relations office told Iranian state media that the total number of victims could be as high as 12. In a confession reported by the Telegraph, Akbari stated she could not remember the exact count, suggesting the number might be between 13 and 15 people.

The Mechanics of the ‘Sigheh’ Marriage Scheme

Akbari exploited a specific legal framework in Iran known as sigheh, or mut’ah. These are temporary marriage contracts that allow a man and woman to unite for a predetermined period. According to Yahoo News, these unions require a verbal contract and a specified dowry, known as mahr, but do not require witnesses.

She would enter these short-term marriages, often living with the men for two to three months before killing them. Under Article 940 of Iran’s Civil Code, temporary spouses do not automatically inherit from one another, which likely helped Akbari avoid the immediate scrutiny that follows the death of a permanent spouse.

The motive was greed. Authorities speculate that Akbari targeted elderly men to collect gold, cash, and dowry wealth. In her final known marriage, Akbari reportedly received a dowry of 5 billion rials before the death of her 82-year-old husband, Gholamreza Babaei.

Methods of Execution and Discovery

Akbari’s methods were designed to mimic natural death or medical failure. According to Iranian media and Saudi-based Iran International, her “poison of choice” included:

• Industrial rubbing alcohol sneaked into drinks.
• Diabetes medications.
• Sedatives and heart or blood pressure medications.
• Suffocation using towels after the victims were drugged.

The spree ended in 2023 due to the suspicions of Gholamreza Babaei’s children. Before his death, Babaei complained to his family that Akbari was forcing him to take medications that left him unconscious. Following his passing, his children filed a police complaint, which triggered the investigation and Akbari’s subsequent confession. Because her victims were spread across various towns, she had avoided detection for twenty years.

The Legal Battle: Qisas vs. Diya

The sentencing of Kolthoum Akbari reflects the dual nature of Iran’s Islamic Sharia law. The court handed down 10 death sentences based on qisas, the “eye-for-an-eye” principle of retributive justice. However, the law also allows for diya, or “blood money.”

According to the Jerusalem Post, the families have until the end of August 2026 to seek an appeal. Yahoo News reports that the court has ordered the confiscation of all of Akbari’s property.

Regional Context and Human Rights

Akbari’s case is an outlier in terms of gender, though not in terms of brutality. The New York Post noted that another Iranian serial killer, Mahin Qadiri, was executed in 2006 after killing five women. While Akbari’s crimes are violent and undisputed by her own confession, her looming execution occurs amid a backdrop of international tension. The UN and various human rights groups have criticized Iran for the execution of political prisoners, though authorities specify that Akbari’s case is a matter of violent crime, not national security.

The case has sparked renewed discussions in the Mazandaran Province regarding the vulnerability of the elderly to predatory contractual marriages.

The case remains a grim reminder of how legal loopholes can be weaponized by a determined predator.