Iran has executed Jamshid Sharmahd, a 69-year-old German-Iranian citizen and U.S. resident, who was convicted of “corruption on Earth” and sentenced to death in February 2023. The execution, announced by the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan website, occurred on Monday morning, prompting immediate condemnation from Germany and other nations.
Mizan described Sharmahd as a “criminal terrorist” who had been hosted by the United States and European countries, claiming he operated under the protection of their intelligence services.
German officials reacted with outrage. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the execution a “scandal” and warned of “serious consequences” for the Iranian regime. She emphasized that Sharmahd did not receive a fair trial, a sentiment echoed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who labeled the event as shameful.
Sharmahd’s daughter, Gazelle, voiced her grief and demanded proof of her father’s death from both the German and U.S. governments. She insisted that his body be returned for burial and called for severe repercussions for the Iranian government.
Human rights organizations denounced the execution as an “extrajudicial killing,” highlighting Iran’s use of capital punishment as a tool of intimidation. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam of Iran Human Rights condemned Sharmahd’s unlawful abduction and execution, stating that they exemplify the Iranian regime’s ongoing abuses.
Chancellor Scholz also condemned the execution, noting that Sharmahd was denied the chance to defend himself at trial. Arrested in 2020 while traveling in the UAE, Sharmahd had been accused of involvement in a 2008 mosque bombing in Shiraz that killed 14 people, a charge his family has consistently denied. The Iranian government does not recognize dual citizenship, complicating international advocacy on his behalf.
Sharmahd’s case reflects a troubling trend in Iran, which ranks second globally in the number of executions, with at least 627 reported this year alone, according to human rights groups.
