Germany's Diplomatic Crisis: Outrage Over the Execution of Jamshid Sharmahd
Germany has taken a bold stand against Iran following the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian dual national who was accused of terrorism by the Iranian government. In a significant diplomatic move, Germany recalled its ambassador to Tehran and summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in Berlin, voicing its protests against the execution, which has drawn widespread condemnation.
Sharmahd, 69, was executed on Monday, a decision that has left his family devastated. His daughter, Gazelle Sharmahd, who campaigned tirelessly to secure his release, has expressed profound disappointment with both the German and U.S. governments for their perceived inaction. Despite her efforts to engage with leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, both declined to meet with her, heightening her sense of betrayal.
In a heartfelt social media post, Gazelle shared a video of herself standing in silence, symbolizing her unbreakable bond with her father. She adorned herself with the ancient Derafsh Kaviani symbol as a gesture of solidarity with the ongoing Women, Life, Freedom movement in Iran. "As I wait in silence, our bond is beyond words," she wrote. Gazelle’s pain was compounded by the U.S. refusal to include her father in a recent $6 billion cash exchange for five prisoners in September 2023. The U.S. government argued that while Sharmahd lived in California and held a green card, he was not a U.S. citizen and therefore not eligible for the deal.
German officials expressed outrage following the execution. Chancellor Scholz called it a scandal, and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock threatened serious repercussions for Iran's actions, stating, "The killing of Jamshid Sharmahd shows what kind of inhumane regime is in place there... Even under the new government, no one is safe in Iran." Baerbock defended the government's repeated efforts for Sharmahd’s release, asserting that high-ranking officials from the foreign office had traveled to Tehran on multiple occasions.
The execution has sparked sharp criticism from across Europe, with Josep Borrell, head of EU foreign affairs, condemning the act and promising that the EU would reevaluate its response to Iran. Amid the backlash, Mariam Claren, another daughter of a German-Iranian dual national held in Iran, criticized the so-called 'quiet diplomacy' and described the handling of such cases as coldhearted, noting the lack of response from government officials to family requests for meetings.
Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democratic Union party, labeled Sharmahd’s execution as a heinous crime. He urged the government to adopt a stronger stance against Iran, suggesting that relations with the country should be reexamined in light of state-sponsored killing. Merz has been a longtime advocate for Sharmahd's release and now calls for the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador from Germany.
Tehran has accused Sharmahd of leading a pro-monarchist group known as Tondar and for organizing a deadly attack on a mosque in 2008, which claimed 14 lives and left over 200 injured. Furthermore, he was charged with revealing classified information regarding missile sites belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guard during a televised interview in 2017.
In a scathing social media post, Gazelle questioned the U.S. State Department's position, asking, "Is the state department truly still denying that my father is an American?" She expressed frustration at being denied support from the U.S. and criticized the Biden-Harris administration for negotiating with Iran while leaving her father behind. "You left him to die while the Biden-Harris administration handed $6 billion to his captors and his murderers," she remarked, echoing the sentiments of many who feel that the geopolitical dance between the West and Iran has come at the expense of individual lives.
The fallout from Jamshid Sharmahd’s execution continues to unfold, putting Germany and its allies in a difficult position as they navigate relations with a regime known for its oppressive tactics. As protests grow and families seek justice, the international community is left grappling with how to effectively respond to such humanitarian crises.
Related Sources: