German Foreign Ministry to VOA: The execution of Sharmeh has serious consequences for the Iranian government

The German Foreign Minister, in response to a request from VOA for comments on the execution of Jamshid Sharmeh by the Islamic Republic, stated that the 'killing' of a German citizen has serious consequences. Annalena Baerbock said, 'I strongly condemn the killing of Jamshid Sharmeh by the Iranian regime. Jamshid Sharmeh was kidnapped from Dubai and taken to Iran, where he was held for years without a fair trial and has now been killed.' The German Foreign Minister continued her response to VOA, adding, 'Today the worst thing happened for his family. I fully sympathize with his family, with whom we have always been in contact.' She added, 'Our embassy in Tehran tirelessly campaigned and worked for Jamshid Sharmeh. Here in Berlin, we also worked on this case every day. We sent a high-level team from the Foreign Ministry to Tehran several times for this purpose. We have repeatedly informed Tehran that the execution of a German citizen will have serious consequences.' According to Annalena Baerbock, 'The killing of Jamshid Sharmeh once again shows what an inhumane regime is ruling in Tehran; a regime that uses the tool of death against its youth, against its population, and against foreign nationals. This shows that with the coming of the new government, no one is safe.' The Mizan news agency, the media organ of the Iranian judiciary, reported on Tuesday, November 7, that Jamshid Sharmeh, a political prisoner with dual Iranian-German citizenship, has been executed. Jamshid Sharmeh, 68, was kidnapped by the Islamic Republic's intelligence forces in the UAE in the summer of 1399 (2020) and forcibly transferred to Iran. The Islamic Republic claimed he was arrested in a 'complex operation.' Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, called the execution of Jamshid Sharmeh by the Islamic Republic in Iran a 'scandal' and condemned it 'in the strongest terms' in a message on social media platform X on Tuesday evening. He noted that 'Jamshid Sharmeh did not even have the opportunity to defend himself against the charges brought against him,' and emphasized that 'the federal government (of Germany) has repeatedly supported Mr. Sharmeh seriously.' A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told VOA that they are in close contact with the German government and the European Union regarding this matter and will continue to work with the international community to hold the Iranian government accountable for human rights violations. U.S. reactions to the execution of Sharmeh include that the Islamic Republic executes Iranians for exercising 'fundamental human rights.' The U.S. Special Representative's deputy stated: 'The execution of Jamshid Sharmeh reflects the continuation of the Iranian government's 'heinous actions.' Reactions to the execution of Jamshid Sharmeh: The approach of a 'killer kidnapping mafia' in response to international humiliation. The Islamic Republic executed Jamshid Sharmeh. Ghazaleh Sharmeh urged American lawmakers: 'Do everything in your power to free my father and other hostages.'