In a surprising turn of events, Iran announced the death of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian national who had been sentenced to death on terrorism charges, before his execution could take place. The news was delivered by judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir, who stated that Sharmahd, sentenced to death for “corruption on Earth” in February 2023, passed away before the execution could be carried out.
Sharmahd, aged 69, was convicted of playing a role in a devastating 2008 mosque bombing in Shiraz, southern Iran, which resulted in 14 deaths and over 300 injuries. He was also accused of leading the Tondar group, an organization classified as terrorist by Iranian authorities, with the aim of overthrowing the Islamic republic. His family had maintained that Sharmahd was abducted by Iranian authorities in 2020 while traveling through the United Arab Emirates.
The announcement of Sharmahd’s death sentence in October 2023 triggered a wave of international criticism. Germany, particularly vocal in its condemnation, deemed the execution an act of an “inhumane regime” and retaliated by closing three Iranian consulates within its borders. The move sparked a strong protest from Iran.
Despite the international outcry, Jahangir maintained that Iran’s judicial system had acted according to its laws in trying Sharmahd, emphasizing that even if he had not been Iranian, his crimes within Iran warranted prosecution. The specifics surrounding Sharmahd’s death, however, remain shrouded in ambiguity. The Iranian government has yet to provide any details about the circumstances surrounding his death, leaving the international community with more questions than answers.
