The woman said she would marry men temporarily and, after living with them for around two to three months, would kill her victims by giving them pills or dissolving the pills in their drinks.
Kolthoum Akbari, a 56-year-old who has come to be known by the title of Iran's "Black Widow," was sentenced to death after she allegedly confessed to killing 12 out of her 13 husbands, the Mazandaran Judiciary's public relations office told Iranian state media on Sunday.
Only one of Akbari's victims said they forgave her for the death of their male relative, while a second family promised to give forgiveness once diyah (blood money) was paid. All of Akbari's property is to be confiscated by the courts.
Akbari and the families of her alleged victims have been given 20 days to deliver their appeal to be considered by a higher court, after which the verdict will be final.
The 56-year-old was first arrested in September 2023 after she was suspected of murdering her 82-year-old "temporary" husband. It was soon discovered that the Black Widow had married a dozen times beforehand, and each marriage ended in the death of her husband.
In Iran, sigheh, or mut'ah (temporary marriage), is a legally recognized form of marriage that unites a man and woman for a predetermined period. The union requires a specified mahr (dowry) and verbal contract, but no witnesses. Unlike permanent marriages, under Article 940 of Iran's Civil Code, temporary spouses do not automatically inherit.
Akbari had reportedly received a dowry of 5 billion rials for her temporary marriage to her 82-year-old husband. Months before the elderly man passed, he told his children that Akbari had forced him to take medication for his heart and blood pressure, and he would often fall unconscious after consuming it. He claimed at the time that Akbari was trying to kill him.
After his death, his children went to the police and filed a complaint against their father's temporary wife, accusing her of murder. It was during the course of the investigation that Akbari confessed to killing the 82-year-old and 11 others from 2000 onwards.
Akbari said she would initially marry the men temporarily and, after living with them for around two to three months, would kill her victims by giving them pills or dissolving the pills in their drinks.