Iran executed this Saturday British-Iranian citizen and former Deputy Defense Minister Alireza Akbari, convicted of spying for british intelligence servicesamid calls to stop the hanging.
“Alireza Akbari, former Iranian officer, was executed this Saturday for spying for the agency British intelligence,” the semi-official Mehr media reported.
Iranian judicial authorities reported the former deputy minister’s death sentence on Wednesday, although it is unknown when he was sentenced for “spying for MI6” in exchange for “1,805,000 euros, 265,000 pounds and 50,000 US dollars”.
Her execution has gone ahead despite calls for her arrest. “Iran must not continue with the brutal threat of execution”said yesterday the British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly.
For his part, The United States yesterday demanded the immediate release of the former Vice Minister of Defence. “The United States echoes the strong call of the British Government for Iran does not carry out this execution and release Mr. Akbari immediately,” Vedant Patel, vice spokesman for the State Department, defended at a press conference.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has been accused of using prisoners with dual nationality in particular, but also from other countries, as a measure of pressure or for prisoner exchange with other countries.
This has been termed as the “hostage diplomacy” of Iran by other countries and human rights organizations.
Akbari held the position of deputy defense minister during the tenure of former reformist president Mohamed Katami (1997-2005) and was arrested three years ago. The Ministry of Intelligence has described Akbari “As one of the most important cases of infiltration” of the security of the Persian country.
Source: Lasexta
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