Iran's judiciary announced the execution of Alireza Akbari, a British-Iranian national who was the country's deputy defense minister from 2000 to 2005 despite calls for his release from both the United Kingdom and the United States.
The official news outlet of the judiciary stated that Akbari was put to death after being found guilty of "corruption on Earth" and espionage on behalf of British intelligence.
Mofsed-e-filarz usually translated as "corruption on earth" is a phrase used by Iranian authorities to describe a wide range of offenses, including those concerning Islamic morals .
The statement also explained that Akbari had previously been sentenced to death for actions that were deemed to harm both Iran's internal and external security through the passing of information.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was "appalled by the execution," posting on Twitter that Akbari's execution was "a callous and cowardly act, carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights of their own people."
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his solidarity and condemned the execution on Twitter. Macron said, "The execution of Alireza Akbari is a despicable and barbaric act. His name adds to too long a list of victims of repression and the death penalty in Iran. Solidarity with the UK. Solidarity with the Iranian people"
I am appalled by the execution of British-Iranian citizen Alireza Akbari in Iran.
This was a callous and cowardly act, carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights of their own people. My thoughts are with Alireza’s friends and family.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) January 14, 2023
The United States stands firmly with the UK in strongly condemning Iran’s execution of Iranian-British dual national Alireza Akbari. We mourn with his loved ones and will continue to hold Iran accountable for its sham trials and politicized executions.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 14, 2023
Canada unreservedly condemns the Iranian regime’s unconscionable execution of Alireza Akbari, an Iranian-British national. Yet another example of the regime’s horrific brutality. We’ll continue to stand with the people of Iran as they fight for their human rights.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 15, 2023
The execution of Alireza Akbari is a despicable and barbaric act. His name adds to too long a list of victims of repression and the death penalty in Iran. Solidarity with the UK. Solidarity with the Iranian people.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 14, 2023
This morning’s execution of Iranian-British national #AlirezaAkbari, a former Iranian official, by Iran's authorities again displays their abhorrent assault on the right to life. The use of the death penalty is appalling under all circumstances. 1/6
— Amnesty Iran (@AmnestyIran) January 14, 2023
Norway strongly condemns the execution of British-Iranian citizen Alireza Akbari in #Iran.
We continue to call on Iran to end the repression of human rights and to immediately halt executions.
Norway opposes #DeathPenalty under all circumstances. -@AHuitfeldt pic.twitter.com/1pKelh0xB1
— Norway MFA (@NorwayMFA) January 14, 2023
The UK has sanctioned Iran’s Prosecutor General.
On his watch, the judiciary has executed British National Alireza Akbari and a growing number of Iranians in response to the protests.
We will continue to hold the Iranian regime to account.
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) January 14, 2023
The official news outlet further accused Akbari of receiving training from the British intelligence agency MI-6, creating shell companies to counter Iranian intelligence, holding intelligence meetings in various countries, including Austria and the UAE, and receiving British citizenship as a reward for betraying his own country.
The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, condemned the execution as a "callous and cowardly act carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights of their own people." The Foreign Minister, James Cleverly, also condemned the act in the strongest possible terms and stated that it would not go unchallenged.
The United States also called for the halt of Akbari's execution. Iranian state media, which portrayed Akbari as a "super spy", broadcast a video on Thursday claiming to show Akbari's involvement in the 2020 assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. The assassination, which took place outside Tehran, was at the time blamed on Israel by Iranian authorities.
According to the Iranian judiciary, Akbari began working with British intelligence in 2004 for five years before leaving the country. In 2009, he was allegedly advised by the UK to leave Iran. He later allegedly re-entered Iran several years later to continue his activities and was ultimately arrested, although the judiciary did not announce the date of his arrest.
Akbari's family had previously told British media that he was innocent and had fallen victim to political games in Iran.
