Iran Executes 69-Year-Old Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian Detained Since 2020; Germany Closes Iranian Consulates

Nov 3, 2024, 12:01 AM

Jamshid Sharmahd, a 69-year-old software engineer with dual German and Iranian nationality, was executed by Iran after being convicted of 'corruption on earth' following what Amnesty International described as a 'sham trial' and 'forced confessions.' Sharmahd had been detained in Iran since 2020, and his family learned of his death through a report from the Iranian Judiciary's news agency, which stated he had 'met the consequence of his actions' but did not explicitly mention execution. In response to the execution, Germany announced the closure of all Iranian consulates in the country. The German Embassy in Iran has also been labeled as effectively serving as Israel's consulate by Iranian officials, which adds to the diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Sharmahd's daughter, Gazelle Sharmahd, has raised serious questions regarding the circumstances of her father's death, seeking clarity on whether he was murdered or died under torture.