Akbari, a former deputy protection minister in Iran, was sentenced to demise after Tehran accused him of spying for Britain, in line with Mizan, the information company of Iran’s judiciary, which gave no particulars Wednesday on when the sentence was handed down or when it could be carried out. The company additionally didn’t say when Akbari was arrested, although his spouse instructed the BBC’s Persian service that he was detained greater than three years in the past.
Mizan’s article described Akbari as “probably the most necessary brokers of Britain’s spy service” and mentioned an enchantment towards his execution had been rejected after he was discovered responsible of “corruption on earth” and “in depth actions towards the nation’s inside and international safety.”
Akbari was accused of passing necessary info to “the enemy’s spy companies,” Mizan mentioned, referring to Britain’s international intelligence company, MI6.
On Thursday, the Iranian information company IRNA broadcast Akbari’s alleged confession. However Akbari mentioned in a recording made in jail and obtained by BBC Persian that he was pressured to make the confession beneath risk of demise. He additionally mentioned he was subjected to greater than 3,500 hours of interrogation, throughout which his “will was damaged” and he was “pushed to the purpose of madness” by torture and psychedelic medication.
He mentioned within the recording that Iranian authorities had “no proof for any of the claims it’s making” and easily wished to “take revenge” towards Britain.
Akbari’s spouse instructed BBC Persian on Wednesday that he had been taken to solitary confinement and that relations had been instructed any go to to Akbari can be his final. She added that the household had beforehand determined towards publicizing information of his detention in hopes of reaching a decision, however that Iranian media shops had then printed the information of his conviction and demise sentence.
Iran’s supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, controls the judiciary and has the ultimate say on all political and non secular issues within the nation. He wields the facility to pardon prisoners and commute sentences.
In keeping with the Related Press, Akbari served as deputy protection minister beneath President Mohammad Khatami — a pro-reform cleric who got here to energy in 1997 — till 2001. He additionally performed a job within the cease-fire that ended a bloody eight-year battle with Iraq in 1988, the AP mentioned. He lived in Britain for over 10 years, the Guardian reported.
Iran has come beneath renewed strain over its demise penalty since hanging at the least 4 males arrested within the anti-government protests that adopted the September demise of Mahsa Amini within the custody of the nation’s “morality police.” The 22-year-old had been detained for allegedly sporting a head protecting improperly.
Greater than 500 protesters have been killed within the unrest, in line with the Human Rights Activists Information Company, whereas others have acquired demise sentences.
Twin nationals have been focused by Iranian authorities lately, and plenty of Western nations have warned towards journey to Iran for that reason.
Dissidents primarily based overseas additionally face threats. Jamshid Sharmahd, a California resident in his 60s, was allegedly kidnapped throughout a flight layover in Dubai in August 2020 and brought to Iran, the place he was accused of main a “terrorist” group — a cost he denies.
In keeping with his daughter, he additionally faces prices of “corruption on earth.” His eighth and last court docket look had been scheduled for Jan. 10, however Sharmahd’s daughter mentioned it had already occurred behind closed doorways. The court-appointed lawyer, she mentioned, instructed the household {that a} demise sentence can be carried out inside 10 days.
She beforehand mentioned that her father had misplaced 40 kilos and most of his tooth whereas in custody.
Sharmahd’s ordeal shares some parallels with the case of Ruhollah Zam, a outstanding exiled journalist dwelling in France who was arrested and extradited to Iran after being lured to Iraq in 2019. He, like Akbari, was convicted of “corruption on earth.” He was executed in December 2020.
