In Iran, German-Iranian dual national Jamshid Sharmahd was executed on terror charges, despite international criticism of the death sentence. As the official justice portal Misan announced, the execution took place in the morning. Germany had called for the verdict to be annulled.
Death sentences in Iran are usually carried out by hanging. The verdict against Sharmahd was confirmed by the Supreme Court in April 2023. Human rights activists – and especially Sharmahd’s daughter Gazelle, who lives in the US – fought to the end to save him.
The German federal government sharply criticized the verdict and called for the release of dual nationals. The execution of the death sentence is likely to lead to new tensions in diplomatic relations between Tehran and Berlin.
Accusations of terrorism against German-Iranians
Although Iran applies the death penalty severely, executions of Western foreigners are exceptional. In February 2023, a revolutionary court held the 69-year-old responsible for, among other things, a terrorist attack and accused him of cooperation with foreign secret services. The allegations cannot be verified. According to Islamic legal belief, Sharmahd was convicted of ‘corruption on earth’.
Sharmahd was reportedly kidnapped by Iranian intelligence in Dubai in the summer of 2020 and taken to Iran. He has been imprisoned in Tehran ever since. Sharmahd previously lived in the US for many years. His family and human rights organizations rejected the allegations against him.
Following the wave of protests in Iran in autumn 2022 and the violent state crackdown on the demonstrations, relations between Iran and Europe have deteriorated. The Iranian government is also criticized for its Middle East policies and military support for Russia.
Source: Krone
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