Foreign Minister Baerbock had announced a clear reaction to the death sentence against the German-Iranian Djamshid Sharmahd. Now she is there. How is Tehran reacting?
In response to the death sentence passed by a court in Tehran against German-Iranian Djamshid Sharmahd, the German government has expelled two Iranian diplomats. This was announced by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) in Berlin.
A revolutionary court had held the 67-year-old Sharmahd responsible for a terrorist attack, among other things, as the justice portal Misan announced on Tuesday.
“We call on Iran to revoke the death sentence”
Baerbock explained that she had summoned the charge d’affaires of the Iranian embassy in view of the death sentence. This is considered a sharp diplomatic tool. The chargé d’affaires had been informed “that we do not accept the massive violation of the rights of a German national,” the foreign minister said. As a result, the federal government declared two members of the Iranian embassy to be undesirable and asked them to leave Germany at short notice.
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Berlin did not want to go into the functions of the deportees within the Iranian embassy on Wednesday. It is about two people who are registered on the diplomatic list of the Iranian embassy in Berlin. “You can assume that these are chosen in such a way that Iran is made aware of the scope of the situation in an appropriate manner,” he added when asked.
Tehran blames Sharmahd for terrorist attacks
The Iranian judiciary also blames Sharmahd for planning several terrorist attacks. The court also charged him with cooperation with foreign secret services. The allegations cannot be verified. Death penalty in Iran is usually carried out by hanging.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the death sentence as “unacceptable”. “The Iranian regime fights its own people in every possible way and disregards human rights,” Scholz wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. “We condemn this in the strongest possible terms and call on the Iranian regime to reverse the verdict.” Baerbock also called for Sharmahd to be allowed a fair and constitutional appeals process.
In Germany, CDU leader Friedrich Merz had also sharply criticized Sharmahd’s death sentence. This is an affront, Merz wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. “He didn’t have a lawyer he trusted and the German embassy had no consular access.” Merz announced in early January that he would take over Sharmahd’s political sponsorship.
According to a spokesman for the Foreign Office, the German embassy in Tehran is in contact with his relatives, but there is no direct contact. The embassy has repeatedly worked at all levels to gain consular access to Sharmahd. Iran has consistently denied this, citing its dual citizenship. In addition, intensive attempts were made again and again to observe his process. Iran has repeatedly rejected this.
Meanwhile, the German ambassador in Theheran once again formally conveyed the German government’s protest to the Iranian government.
Tehran imposes counter-sanctions
Relations between Iran and Western countries, including Germany, had recently deteriorated massively. Baerbock and representatives of the EU had sharply criticized Tehran for their violent handling of protests in Iran against the country’s repressive leadership and Islamic system of rule. Most recently, the EU imposed new sanctions against Tehran on Monday, for example against prison directors, prosecutors and judges. According to estimates by human rights activists, 20,000 demonstrators were arrested during the protests. Several demonstrators were sentenced to death and four have been carried out.
On Tuesday, Iran responded with counter-sanctions against 23 people and 13 organizations. The members of the Bundestag Renata Alt (FDP), Roderich Kiesewetter (CDU) and Michael Roth (SPD) are affected. You recently made critical comments about Iran. The punitive measures include entry bans and the freezing of possible assets in Iran.
In a joint statement, the three deputies were relaxed. “We see the fact that the regime in Tehran has imposed sanctions on us and other committed colleagues from the European Parliament as confirmation of our support for the freedom movement in Iran,” it said. In fact, the sanctions meant no restrictions for them, as they had no assets in Iran and did not want to travel there. “What is really threatened, however, are the courageous Iranians and their supporters, who resist the mullahs’ rule every day anew.”
The trigger for the nationwide protests in Iran was the death of the Iranian Kurd Jina Mahsa Amini. She died in police custody on September 16 after being arrested by the Morality Police for breaking the Islamic dress code.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
