The Council of Europe Condemns the Supreme Court's Confirmation of Jamshid Sharmeh's Death Sentence

On Friday, the Council of Europe issued a statement strongly condemning the Iranian Supreme Court's decision to uphold the death sentence of Jamshid Sharmeh, a German-Iranian national. In the statement published on the European Union's website, the Islamic Republic is urged to refrain from carrying out Mr. Sharmeh's death sentence and to revoke it, as well as to ensure that Mr. Sharmeh receives his basic rights, which he is entitled to under international law, without delay. Mr. Sharmeh has been in detention since 2020 and has not had access to a lawyer during his detention, and Iranian authorities have denied him consular access despite his German nationality. The statement adds, 'The death penalty violates the fundamental right to life enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment.' The Council of Europe also calls on the Islamic Republic to halt death sentences and to pursue a consistent policy for abolishing the death penalty, as well as to fully adhere to its international obligations regarding consular relations, especially under the Vienna Convention, of which Iran is a party. The Council of Europe expressed its deep concern about the situation of dual EU nationals in Iran—especially those who have received death sentences and are arbitrarily detained in Iran—recalling the Council's December 2020 conclusions and the High Representative's statement on behalf of the EU on February 20, 2020. It is worth noting that Masoud Setayesh, the spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary, announced on Wednesday morning, April 25, the confirmation of Jamshid Sharmeh's death sentence by the Supreme Court. This political opponent of the Islamic Republic was kidnapped by security forces from the UAE years ago and was tried in Iran by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on charges of 'corruption on earth' and sentenced to death. Ghazaleh Sharmeh: 'Despite our ideological differences, we are united for political prisoners and human rights.' Ghazaleh Sharmeh: 'There is no possibility to contact my father, and we must follow the news for the latest developments.' Jamshid Sharmeh, a kidnapped political activist sentenced to death, according to one of his acquaintances. The Iran Human Rights Organization warns about the imminent execution of Jamshid Sharmeh. Germany's reaction to the confirmation of Jamshid Sharmeh's death sentence by the Supreme Court and the Islamic Republic's response. The Supreme Court confirmed Jamshid Sharmeh's death sentence. Amnesty International expressed concern over the risk of Jamshid Sharmeh's execution and called for his release.