Germany expels two Iran diplomats after Tehran sentences a German to death

Germany expels two Iranian diplomats after authorities in Iran announce death sentence for 67-year-old Iranian-German over “terrorist activities”.

Germany said on February 22 that it is expelling two Iranian diplomats over a death sentence imposed in Iran against one of its citizens, Israel National News reported.

The decision came after authorities in Iran announced on February 21 that Jamshid Sharmahd, a 67-year-old Iranian-German national and US resident, was sentenced to death after being convicted of “terrorist activities”.

Iran claims Sharmahd is the leader of the armed wing of a group advocating the restoration of the monarchy that was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, while members of his family say he was merely the spokesman for the opposition group and deny he was involved in any attacks.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on February 22 she summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires in Berlin and informed him that “we will not accept this massive breach of a German citizen’s rights”.

“As a consequence, the German government has declared two members of the Iranian embassy unwanted persons and asked them to leave Germany at short notice,” she said. “We demand that Iran revokes the death sentence against Jamshid Sharmahd and allows him to have an appeal that is fair and in line with the rule of law.”

The official website of Iran’s judiciary said Sharmahd was convicted of plotting terrorist activities. He was tried in a Revolutionary Court, where proceedings are held behind closed doors and where rights groups say defendants are unable to choose their lawyers or see the evidence against them.

Iran regularly claims to have captured individuals who are accused of spying for Israel, the US, Britain and other countries.

On February 22, Austria announced that one of its citizens had been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail in Iran for spying. In response, Vienna summoned the Iranian ambassador.

The latest sentences come as Iran continues to deal with mass anti-government protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last September after she was arrested for an alleged breach of the country's strict dress rules for women based on Islamic sharia law.