Berlin
Tehran has sentenced a German-Iranian to death. The German government has sharply criticized and expelled two Iranian diplomats.
- After the death sentence against a German-Iranian in Tehran, German politicians reacted clearly
- Two Iranian diplomats are expelled
- CDU boss Merz also commented on the case
In response to the death sentence passed by a court in Tehran against the German-Iranian Djamshid Sharmahd two Iranian diplomats expelled. This was announced by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) on Wednesday in Berlin. A revolutionary court in Iran had held the 67-year-old Sharmahd responsible for a terrorist attack, among other things, as the justice portal Misan announced on Tuesday.
Baerbock explained that she had summoned the charge d’affaires from the Iranian embassy. Such an appointment is deemed to be harsh diplomatic tool. He was informed “that we do not accept the massive violation of the rights of a German national”. As a result, the federal government declared two members of the Iranian embassy undesirable and asked them to leave Germany.
Baerbock emphasizes: “We call on Iran to revoke the death sentence for Jamshid Sharmahd and to allow him a fair and constitutional appeal process.”
Also read: Why Germany must end diplomacy with Iran
Death sentence in Iran: Sharmahd participated in the radio program of an exile group
The activist Sharmahd was reportedly arrested by Iranian intelligence in the summer of 2020 arrested in Dubai and brought to Iran. Since then he has been imprisoned in Tehran. Sharmahd previously lived in the United States for years. His family and human rights groups have previously denied allegations against him.
Sharmahd was involved in the United States Exile opposition group “Tondar” (Donner), which advocates a return of the monarchy. Iran’s judiciary holds the organization responsible for an attack in a mosque in the city of Shiras in 2008 that killed several people. Three men have already been executed for it. The court also charged him with cooperation with foreign secret services. The allegations cannot be verified. Death penalty in Iran is usually carried out by hanging.
The 67-year-old participated as Engineer and IT expert also on a radio program of the exile group. The website of “Tondar” (now deleted, but archived available) announced in 2019 that the radio show would broadcast content on politics, history, but also instructions on how to resist. The group denounced the persecution of its members by the Islamic Republic.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz: death sentence is an “affront”
In Germany, CDU leader Friedrich Merz had also sharply criticized Sharmahd’s death sentence. This is an affront, Merz wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. “He didn’t have a lawyer he trusted and the German embassy had no consular access.” Merz announced in early January that Sharmahds political sponsorship to take over.
It is unclear whether Sharmahd can receive consular assistance from the German embassy in Tehran. Iran treats dual nationals legally as Iranians. Amnesty International had previously described the process as a show trial.
Sharmahd was born in Tehran in 1955. He moved with his father when he was seven years old Hanover. In 1995 he received German citizenship. In 2003 he moved to the USA.
also read: Nuclear dispute: Iran’s mullah regime is so close to the bomb
Iran imposes counter-sanctions on MPs
After new EU sanctions against Iran for serious human rights violations related to the recent wave of protests in Iran, Tehran announced on Tuesday counter-sanctions imposed – among other things against members of the Bundestag because of critical statements about Iran. The members of the Bundestag Renata Alt (FDP), Roderich Kiesewetter (CDU) and Michael Roth (SPD) are affected.
Several European citizens are currently being held in Iran. Several of them also hold Iranian nationality. Critics accuse Iran of treating foreign citizens as political hostages to fix. Tehran denies the allegations and usually justifies the arrests with allegations of espionage. (fmg/dpa)
More articles from this category can be found here: Politics
