Rishi Sunak is “appalled” by the execution of Alireza Akbari, who was detained and accused of espionage in 2019. Iran accused him of collecting “hundreds of thousands of pounds” for giving intelligence to the United Kingdom. He refuted the allegations.
A British-Iranian person was hanged in Iran on suspicion of espionage for the United Kingdom.
The killing of Alireza Akbari, according to Premier Rishi Sunak, was “a cruel and terrible act done by a savage regime with no regard for the human rights of its people.”
“I am thinking of Alireza’s family and friends.”
Foreign Minister James Cleverly continued: “Iran has executed a citizen of the United Kingdom.
This cruel conduct deserves the harshest possible condemnation.
This will not stand without opposition.
He stated that the Iranian charge d’affaires in London has been summoned to the Foreign Office to convey the government’s “disgust.
David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary for the Labour Party, condemned “the heinous, cowardly, and dictatorial killing.”
He said: “His family is in our thoughts at this time of great sorrow”.
The Iranian dictatorship must be held accountable for its gross violations of international law and human rights.
All state-sanctioned death sentences must be overturned immediately.
“This is truly sad news and once again demonstrates how pitifully little regard the Iranian authorities have for the right to life,” said Freshta Sharif of Amnesty International.
According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Iranian judiciary stated Mr. Akbari was a “major spy” for the British government. Mr. Akbari served as deputy defense minister under former president Mohammad Khatami until 2001.
Iranian intelligence allegedly identified the accused MI6 spy by feeding him fake material. Describing him as “one of the most significant infiltrators into the country’s sensitive and strategic centers.”
Mr. Akbari asserts that he was tortured, administered mind-altering substances, and coerced into confessing to crimes he did not commit.
Mr. Akbari was hanged, according to a tweet from Iran’s Mizan news agency, which is affiliated with the court. Despite rumors that he had been executed days prior, neither the time nor the location was specified.
According to Alistair Bunkall, Mr. Akbari was detained and charged with espionage in 2019 after being accused of earning “hundreds of thousands of pounds” for giving intelligence to the United Kingdom. Mr. Akbari rejected the allegations.
“On Wednesday, his family in Tehran was summoned to his incarceration for what was characterized as a ‘last visit,'” Bunkall said.
According to Mr. Akbari’s family members, he was placed in solitary confinement during his term in prison.
Mr. Cleverly had pleaded for Mr. Akbari’s release upon learning of his impending execution.
Alicia Kearns, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, also criticized the planned execution, accusing the regime in Tehran of reacting because it felt “cornered” by international sanctions and anti-government rallies.
“It is yet another horrible instance of the Iranian regime weaponizing British nationals and industrializing hostage-taking because they feel besieged by sanctions,” she said.
Politically inspired
Friday, Vedant Patel, deputy spokeswoman for the US State Department, stated. “Alireza Akbari was charged with a crime and sentenced to death for political reasons. His execution would be abhorrent.
“We are deeply troubled by claims that Mr. Akbari was drugged, tortured in jail, interrogated for thousands of hours, and coerced into making false confessions,”
She said, “More generally, Iran’s practices of arbitrary and unfair detentions, forced confessions. And politically motivated killings are inexcusable and must cease.”
