Iran Executes German-Iranian Dissident Following Controversial Conviction

Jamshid Sharmahd's trial has been labeled a sham by human rights groups, raising questions about human rights practices in Iran.

Iran executed Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian dissident living in the U.S., on Monday, as confirmed by the Iranian judiciary, sparking outrage from various human rights organizations and Western governments. Mr. Sharmahd, aged 69, was accused of orchestrating a deadly bombing in Iran in 2008, allegations his family maintains were unfounded. This event occurred four years after he was forcibly abducted by Iranian agents while in Dubai, according to family members.

Sharmahd had dual citizenship with Germany, having spent much of his life there before residing in California as a permanent U.S. resident. He was known for running the Kingdom Assembly of Iran, also referred to as Tondar, a group focused on regime change in Tehran and seeking to reinstate the monarchy. His organization claimed responsibility for various attacks within Iran.

His family has expressed grave concerns about the fairness of the legal processes he encountered, describing the trial as a mere façade lacking the validity necessary for a fair judgment. Ten years prior to his trial, an Iranian agent in Los Angeles had falsely attempted to have him killed, highlighting the dangers faced by dissidents abroad.

Sharmahd’s case stands out because Iran typically refrains from executing dual citizens. Nonetheless, Iran has carried out similar executions in recent years, including those of Alireza Akbari, a British-Iranian, and Habib Chaab, a Swedish-Iranian. As the Iranian government continues to face scrutiny over its treatment of political opponents, the implications of Sharmahd's execution could spur further international discourse on human rights abuses.