Germany has lodged a formal protest against Iran following the execution of Iranian-German prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd. Sharmahd, a 69-year-old Iranian dissident who resided in the U.S., was kidnapped in Dubai in 2020 by Iranian security forces. The German Foreign Ministry expressed its outrage over the execution and recalled its ambassador to Berlin for consultations.
The execution of Sharmahd on terrorism charges was condemned by Germany, the U.S., and international rights groups. The trial leading to his death sentence was widely criticized as a sham. Sharmahd was accused by Iran of planning a 2008 attack on a mosque that resulted in casualties and of disclosing classified information on missile sites of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Sharmahd's family has vehemently denied the allegations against him and had been advocating for his release. The circumstances surrounding his abduction remain unclear, with tracking data showing his mobile phone traveling from Dubai to Oman before his capture by Iranian authorities.
Germany had previously expelled two Iranian diplomats in response to Sharmahd's death sentence. The latest protest by Germany signals its strong condemnation of Iran's actions and raises the possibility of further measures being taken in response.
Iran's aggressive targeting of Iranian dissidents abroad has drawn international condemnation, particularly following the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal. The execution of Sharmahd underscores the ongoing tensions between Iran and Western nations, including Germany.
