UN: The Death of Jamshid Sharmehdi in Custody is a Serious Violation of Human Rights

UN human rights experts on Wednesday, February 13, following Germany's announcement of the autopsy and confirmation of Jamshid Sharmehdi's death in custody, described the actions of the Islamic Republic as a 'serious violation of human rights.' The experts expressed regret over years of 'arbitrary detention and violation of Sharmehdi's fundamental rights,' stating, 'The death of a 69-year-old man after years of illegal detention, especially considering that he was a victim of kidnapping and deprived of fundamental rights, including the right to a fair trial, is completely unacceptable.' The UN experts emphasized the illegality of forced extradition, stating, 'Under international law, the transfer of an individual must occur through the extradition process and the principle of non-refoulement, and methods such as kidnapping and illegal transfer of individuals violate all procedures and international standards.' They underscored that 'journalism is not a crime,' noting, 'The detention, trial, and death of Jamshid Sharmehdi in prison were solely due to his exercise of the right to freedom of expression as a journalist.' The UN human rights experts concluded that carrying out executions without adhering to fair trial principles is a clear violation of international law and called on the Islamic Republic to immediately halt all executions. German officials announced on Wednesday, February 13, that the autopsy of Jamshid Sharmehdi, an Iranian-German citizen who died last year under unclear circumstances in the Islamic Republic's prison, has been conducted. The Brandenburg prosecutor's office, which is responsible for handling Sharmehdi's case, announced that the autopsy has been performed, but it has not yet been released, and there are currently no plans to publish the autopsy report. Sharmehdi's body was recently transferred from Iran to Germany after months of delay. This political prisoner was kidnapped by Islamic Republic agents in Dubai in the summer of 2020 and, after being transferred to Iran, was imprisoned, tortured, and tried in the Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Salavati on charges such as 'corruption on earth' and 'waging war against God,' and was sentenced to death. This political activist, who held dual citizenship of Germany and the US, died in prison on October 29, 2024. Initially, Islamic Republic officials announced the execution of his sentence, but a week later claimed that he had died before the execution. The body of Jamshid Sharmehdi will be autopsied in Germany. The transfer of Jamshid Sharmehdi's body to Germany occurred three months after his suspicious death. The return of the German ambassador to Tehran and negotiations for the transfer of Jamshid Sharmehdi's body. The autopsy of Jamshid Sharmehdi in Germany; the timing of the report's release is unclear. The transfer of Jamshid Sharmehdi's body to Germany after the execution in Iran. Exclusive; Switzerland confirmed the death of one of its citizens in Semnan prison. The death of a Swiss national in Semnan prison; the judiciary's claim: he committed suicide. Shirin Ebadi: The Italian journalist will not be the last hostage of the Islamic Republic.