Global Outrage Follows Execution of German-Iranian National Jamshid Sharmahd Amid Allegations of a Sham Trial
In a shocking development, Jamshid Sharmahd, a 69-year-old German-Iranian national and long-time resident of the United States, was executed in Iran on Monday morning. According to Iranian state media, the execution followed his conviction on terrorism charges as reported by the judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency. The news has sparked widespread condemnation from both the United States and Germany, highlighting the tensions surrounding human rights and justice in Iran.
Sharmahd's daughter, Gazelle Sharmahd, has consistently maintained her father’s innocence, suggesting that his execution stems from political motives and his vocal criticism of the Iranian regime. She argues that he faced a farcical trial designed to silence dissent.
Iranian authorities had arrested Sharmahd in 2020, claiming he was the mastermind behind a deadly bombing in Shiraz in 2008. He was convicted in 2022 of "corruption on Earth," which led to his death sentence—a ruling criticized by many human rights organizations and Western governments for its lack of fairness and due process.
Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, characterized the proceedings as a "sham trial" and emphasized the need for a just legal process. Amnesty International agreed, describing the legal proceedings against Sharmahd as grossly unfair.
In the aftermath of Sharmahd's execution, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned the act, stating that it illustrated the inhumane tactics of the Iranian regime, which she accused of wielding death as a weapon against its people and critics. She warned of serious repercussions due to this egregious act.
The U.S. Office of the Special Envoy for Iran has expressed deep concern over the execution and is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Sharmahd's death. They stated that this act represents yet another instance in the Iranian government's ongoing pattern of transnational repression and escalating executions.
Furthermore, the envoy’s office described Sharmahd's kidnapping, rendition, and subsequent trial—characterized by reports of torture—as reprehensible. These events have compounded calls for accountability from human rights advocates and international organizations.
Abram Paley, the U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Iran, had previously met with Sharmahd's family to discuss his long imprisonment and death sentence, signaling the United States' serious commitment to addressing Sharmahd's plight and advocating for human rights in Iran.
Sharmahd's execution not only highlights the judicial failings evident within Iran but also serves as a grim reminder of the severe risks faced by political dissidents in oppressive regimes. The international community continues to grapple with how to respond to such stark violations of human rights and the concerning trajectory of governance in Iran.
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