Iran has executed a 69-year-old German citizen of Iranian descent and a US resident who was convicted of “corruption on Earth” and sentenced to death in February 2023, Jamshid Sharmahd on Monday, drawing swift condemnation from Germany and other nations.
His execution was announced by the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan website, stating it took place that morning.
Mizan said Sharmahd was “a criminal terrorist” who “was hosted by the United States as well as European countries and was operating under the complex protection of their intelligence services.”
German officials reacted strongly, with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock labeling the execution a “scandal” and warning of “serious consequences” for Iran’s regime. She emphasized that Sharmahd did not receive a fair trial, echoing the sentiments of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who described the event as shameful.
Sharmahd’s daughter, Gazelle, expressed her grief and demanded proof of her father’s death from the German and US governments, insisting that his body be returned for burial and that the Iranian government face severe repercussions.
Rights organizations criticized the execution as an “extrajudicial killing” and highlighted the broader context of Iran’s use of capital punishment as a tool of fear.
Iran Human Rights’ person Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam condemned Sharmahd’s unlawful abduction and execution, framing it as part of the Iranian regime’s ongoing abuses.
“The unlawful abduction of Sharmahd, his subsequent torture in custody, the unfair show trial, and today’s execution are exemplary of the countless crimes of the Iranian regime.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also condemned the execution, calling it a “scandal” and adding that “Jamshid Sharmahd did not even receive the opportunity to defend himself against the charges at the trial.”
Sharmahd, who had been in Iranian custody since his arrest in 2020 during a trip to the UAE, was accused of involvement in a 2008 mosque bombing in Shiraz that killed 14 people. His family has consistently maintained his innocence. The Iranian government does not recognize dual citizenship, complicating internationa efforts on his behalf.
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Sharmahd’s case is part of a troubling trend, as Iran ranks second globally in the number of executions, with at least 627 reported this year alone, according to human rights groups.
