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IRAN - Jamshid Sharmahd’s death sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court
April 26, 2023: (April 26, 2023) - The Islamic Republic’s Judiciary Spokesperson announced the confirmation of 68-year-old German-Iranian citizen, Jamshid Sharmahd’s death sentence by the Supreme Court. He was kidnapped by Islamic Republic agents on a layover in Dubai in 2020.
Iran Human Rights calls on the international community to stop Jamshid Sharmahd’s execution by taking urgent and appropriate action, and not to remain silent against the Islamic Republic’s hostage diplomacy.
Iran Human Rights Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “Jamshid Sharmahd is at serious risk of execution and such a crime can only be stopped by raising the cost of his execution through decisive action by the international community, especially the European Union.”
Speaking at a press conference on April 26, the Islamic Republic’s Judiciary Spokesperson, Masoud Setayeshi stated that Jamshid Sharmahd’s death sentence had been upheld by the Supreme Court and that “implementation measures will be taken accordingly.”
Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s public relations announced that “Jamshid Sharmahd’s case was upheld by the Supreme Court based on Article 469(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.”
Jamshid Sharmahd is a German-Iranian dissident activist who was kidnapped on a layover in Dubai when flying to the United States, his country of residence, from India. He last spoke to his wife on 28 July 2020. On 1 August, Minister of Intelligence and Security Mahmoud Alavi announced on state television that Jamshid Sharmahd, the head of Tondar group, had been arrested “following a complex operation” and aired a video of him stating his name while blindfolded with a black cloth. Charges related to a 2010 Mosque bombing, for which three men had already been executed, were brought against him.
Tondar was the media group for “Kindgom Assembly of Iran” which is considered a dissident political group against the Islamic Republic. The Ministry of Intelligence has labelled the group a terrorist organisation.
After being held in pre-trial detention for over a year and a half, his first hearing was held on 6 February 2022. Presided by Judge Salavati, a “hanging judge” on the US sanctions list, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court held multiple hearings on the accusations of “efsad- fil-arz by planning and directing terrorist acts”, including the 2010 bombing. He was sentenced to death today. Jamshid has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest and denied legal representation, due process and the right to a fair trial. Jamshid was sentenced to death on 21 February 2023.
Kidnapping dissidents from neighbouring countries is becoming common practice. Iran Human Rights previously warned that “Failure by the international community to respond adequately to these unlawful acts will lead to its normalisation.”
Arresting political dissidents outside of Iran is not unprecedented. Ruhollah Zam, the director of Amad News Telegram channel, was arrested in Iraq in October 2019 and transported to Iran. He was executed on 12 December 2020. Iranian-Swedish dissident, Habib Chaab was also kidnapped from Turkey in October 2020 and tried for corruption charges. He’s currently awaiting sentencing.
Germany has condemned the sentence as "unacceptable" and declared two staff members at Iran's embassy in Berlin personae non gratae, ordering them to leave the country.
Tehran, in turn, expelled 2 German diplomats last month.
At least 16 Western passport-holders, including 6 French, are being held in Iran on various charges. Most hold dual nationality, which Iran does not recognise.
3 dual nationals including Sharmahd have been sentenced to death or executed over security-related charges since the start of the year, according to the judiciary.
The execution in January of Alireza Akbari, a former Iranian official with British citizenship convicted of espionage, has provoked international outcry.
On the Sharmahd case see also HoC 04/08/2020, 01/11/2020, 27/04/2021, 20, 22 and 23/02/2023.
https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5830/
https://www.en-hrana.org/iranian-supreme-court-upholds-jamshid-sharmahds-death-sentence/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/04/iran-upholds-german-dual-nationals-death-sentence (Source: IHR)
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