Death of Specialist Doctor in Shiraz Due to Consumption of Non-Standard Alcohol; Ban on 'Alcoholic Beverages' in Iran Continues to Claim Victims

Following the poisoning of several doctors due to the consumption of non-standard alcoholic beverages at a party in Shiraz, which reportedly resulted in the death of one of them, several going into a coma, and kidney issues for others, a judicial official of the Islamic Republic confirmed the news, stating that only responsible authorities can provide information on the matter. This incident occurred in the early days of Ordibehesht (April), but government officials and official media remained silent until the news spread on social media. In recent hours, Iranian state media reported, citing informed sources and unofficial reports, that Farzaneh Akbari, a dermatologist, died from consuming non-standard alcoholic drinks at a party in Shiraz, and her husband, Farid Shahriyar, is 'in a coma,' with some others suffering kidney damage. Meanwhile, Afshin Mohammadi Darashouri, the deputy prosecutor of Shiraz, confirmed the news on Tuesday, Ordibehesht 10, stating that 'investigations' into the doctor's death have begun, and three individuals have been arrested as 'related parties,' with others to be pursued. This judicial official denied the information published about the incident, stating that 'only responsible and authorized agencies' are allowed to provide information, claiming that 'six people were poisoned' at the party, and apart from Farzaneh Akbari's death, the others 'were discharged from the hospital shortly after medical interventions.' However, state media, including the Hamshahri newspaper, reported that 29 doctors present at the party were hospitalized due to 'alcohol poisoning.' According to these reports, Dr. Farzaneh Akbari, a dermatologist and beauty specialist from Jahrom, was active in Shiraz, and 'the funeral ceremony for this doctor was held on Tuesday, Ordibehesht 4, at Dar al-Rahmeh in Shiraz,' but officials remained silent for several days until unofficial news spread on social media. Additionally, the IRIB news agency reported that in this incident, 'several doctors have lost their kidneys, and several others are in a coma.' News sources have stated that among the affected doctors, Farid Shahriyar, Farzaneh Akbari's husband, who is a retina specialist, is 'in a coma,' and 'several other doctors have lost their kidneys.' With the ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Iran, the production and distribution of non-standard alcoholic drinks have become prevalent, repeatedly endangering citizens' lives. For instance, last summer, following a police raid on a party in Mashhad, a young man attempting to escape from the authorities fell from the sixth floor of a building and died. Moreover, in Khordad of last year, several citizens in Alborz and Hormozgan provinces died from consuming counterfeit alcohol. Kazem Alamdar, a sociologist residing in the U.S., emphasized in an interview with VOA that the Islamic Republic is directly responsible for the lives lost due to counterfeit alcohol consumption. The effort to impose the Islamic Republic's policies on citizens' personal lives, such as mandatory hijab enforced under the guise of 'promotion of virtue and prevention of vice,' has repeatedly claimed victims.