Iran summons German ambassador over Sharmahd execution condemnation

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned Germany’s ambassador to Tehran, Markus Potzel, in response to Berlin's condemnation of the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a convicted leader of a terrorist group.

On October 29 afternoon, Potzel was called in by the Director General for Western Europe at the Ministry. During the meeting, Iranian officials expressed their strong disapproval of comments made by certain German officials regarding Iran's judicial processes, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

Iran’s representative highlighted that support for Sharmahd—who was found guilty of orchestrating various terrorist activities—contradicts Germany's professed commitment to the rule of law, human rights, and counter-terrorism efforts. 

The Iranian official referenced the bombing of the Rahpouyan-e Vessal Hosseiniyeh in Shiraz in 2008, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of over 200 innocent Iranians, underscoring the gravity of Sharmahd's actions. 

Furthermore, the official pointed out Germany’s backing of Israel amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, including arms supplies, arguing that this stance reveals a blatant inconsistency with Germany's human rights claims. The support for Israel, the Iranian official contended, amounts to complicity in grave international crimes, including genocide.

The meeting concluded with a reiteration that all individuals are equal under the law, and possessing a passport from a third country should not exempt anyone from legal accountability in their home nation. The German ambassador assured that he would relay these concerns back to his government without delay.

Notably, on October 29, Iran confirmed the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, an Iranian-German citizen found guilty of orchestrating terrorist attacks.

Sharmahd, who also held US residency, was sentenced to death in 2023 for charges of “corruption on earth,” a capital offence under Iran's Islamic legal system. Iranian authorities accused him of leading a pro-monarchist group linked to a deadly bombing in 2008 and allegedly conspiring to carry out further attacks within the country.

The German government has vehemently condemned the execution, labelling it as unjust and inhumane. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his outrage on social media platform X, calling the act “a scandal” and emphasising that Sharmahd had not been provided with an adequate defence.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock echoed these concerns, criticising Iran’s “inhumane regime” and reiterating that Berlin had consistently warned Tehran that executing a German citizen would result in “serious consequences.”

By Aghkazim Guliyev