Akbar Lakestani
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Akbar Lakestani | |
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| Born | Iran |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2007–present |
| Known for | Human rights activism; detention and torture in Iran |
Akbar Lakestani (Persian: اکبر لکستانی) is an Iranian-American political activist and former political prisoner. He is a former local official in Showt County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Lakestani has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times in Iran. In 2025, a United States federal court awarded him more than US$14 million in damages in a civil lawsuit against the Islamic Republic of Iran in connection with his detention and alleged torture.[1][2]
Early life and local political activity
Lakestani was active in local politics in West Azerbaijan Province and has been described in media reports as a former member and chairman of the Showt City Council.[3] In 2006, he was identified in an interview with Radio Farda as a representative of the Showt City Council during protests related to a provincial visit by then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.[4]
Arrests and imprisonment
2007 arrest and conviction
According to reports by Persian-language media, Lakestani was arrested in 2007 and later sentenced by the Revolutionary Court in Khoy to three years’ imprisonment on charges reported as “insulting officials” and “propaganda against the state.”[3][5] He was transferred to Maku Prison in 2008 to serve his sentence. Reports indicate that he later received prison leave and subsequently left Iran.[3]
2019 detention
Lakestani was arrested again on 28 September 2019 after entering Iran through the Sarv border crossing in West Azerbaijan Province while traveling to visit family.[6][3] Persian- and English-language outlets reported that he was held in Orumiyeh Central Prison.[3][6]
In October 2019, he began a hunger strike in protest of his detention. Media reports stated that his health deteriorated and that he was transferred to a hospital due to medical complications.[3][7] A Revolutionary Court reportedly set bail at 300 million tomans.[3] Human rights organizations reported concerns regarding his access to medical treatment while in custody.[7]
U.S. civil lawsuit and court judgment
After returning to the United States, Lakestani filed a civil lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), naming the Islamic Republic of Iran and related entities as defendants.[1] On 10 November 2025, the court entered a default judgment against Iran and awarded Lakestani US$14,233,204.88 in damages.[1] Media reports summarizing the decision stated that the court found the Iranian government responsible for hostage-taking, psychological torture, and physical abuse, and that the denial of medical treatment contributed to permanent physical and psychological harm.[2][8][9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Lakestani v. Islamic Republic of Iran et al, No. 1:2021cv02232 – Document 25 (D.D.C. 2025)". Justia. 2025-11-10. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "جمهوری اسلامی به پرداخت ۱۴ میلیون دلار به اکبر لکستانی محکوم شد". ایران اینترنشنال (in فارسی). 2025-11-14. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "نزدیکان اکبر لکستانی، شهروند دو تابعیتی زندانی در ایران می‌گویند از وضعیت او بعد از دو هفته اعتصاب خبر ندارند". صدای آمریکا (in فارسی). 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ↑ "اعتراض به سفر محمود احمدی نژاد به استان آذربایجان: مصاحبه با اکبر لکستانی". رادیو فردا (in فارسی). 2006-08-31. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ↑ "محکومیت ایران به پرداخت غرامت 14 میلیون دلاری به یک زندانی سیاسی سابق". خبرگزاری آنادولو (in فارسی). 2025-11-15. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Revealed: At Least Two More Dual Nationals in Iranian Prisons". IranWire. 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Iranian-American citizen taken to hospital due to critical health condition". Kurdistan Human Rights Network. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ↑ "U.S. Court Orders Iran to Pay $14 Million to Dual Citizen Tortured in Prison". IranWire. 2025-11-18. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ↑ "اکبر لکستانی کیست و چرا از خامنه‌ای در آمریکا شکایت کرد؟". BBC News فارسی (in فارسی). 2025-11-19. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
External links
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