October 29, 2024
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has delivered a fierce condemnation of Iran following the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian dual citizen and activist. Calling the act a “scandal,” Scholz took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce Iran’s actions, saying, “The execution of Jamshid Sharmahd by the Iranian regime is a scandal that I condemn in the strongest possible terms.” This high-profile denunciation marks a new low in Germany-Iran relations and comes amid a broader international outcry against Tehran’s human rights record.
Sharmahd, an outspoken critic of Iran’s government, was abducted in 2020 during a stopover in Dubai and sentenced to death on terror charges by Iranian authorities. His detention and subsequent sentencing had already stirred diplomatic tensions between Berlin and Tehran, with Germany repeatedly urging Iran to stay Sharmahd’s execution.
In a coordinated response, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock echoed Scholz’s outrage and cautioned Tehran that the execution “will have serious consequences.” Conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz added further pressure, declaring that Germany’s “quiet diplomacy” with Iran had failed and urging immediate diplomatic and economic actions. “The Iranian ambassador must be expelled,” Merz stated, calling for a downgrade in diplomatic relations and tightened sanctions targeting those responsible for Sharmahd’s death.
Merz’s stance highlights an increasing call within Germany to take a hard-line approach with Iran, both on a national level and through the European Union, where Germany wields considerable influence. His proposal to target Iran’s judiciary and security services responsible for enforcing Tehran’s harsh sentences reflects the growing political divide over Germany’s handling of Iran’s human rights abuses.
With this latest escalation, Germany’s position on Iran could be set for a major shift as leaders respond to mounting public pressure to take a firmer stand against the Iranian regime’s actions.
