As Germany's relations sour with Iran, pressure grows on Berlin to do more
Activists in Germany are doubtful whether the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats will thwart the death sentence of German-Iranian national Jamshid Sharmahd.
PARIS — German human rights activists are pressuring the government in Berlin to take firm steps against Tehran, to halt the death sentence handed down on Tuesday to dual German-Iranian national Jamshid Sharmahd.
On Wednesday, Germany decided to expel two employees of the Iranian Embassy in Berlin in reaction to the death sentence ruling, but several German politicians believe the expulsion is not enough of a strong enough message to Iran to stop the execution.
Bundestag member Norbert Rottgen, who has long called for Germany to outlaw the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said on Thursday that the summoning of the Iranian envoy for a reprimand by the German Foreign Ministry and the ensuing decision to expel two employees of the Iranian Embassy are not enough. "If the kidnaping of a citizen and threatening to kill him won’t be met with severe consequences, then we are creating a precedent as means of pressure," he tweeted.
Gazelle Sharmahd, the daughter of Jamshid, has been leading the public battle for his release since his kidnapping in Dubai three years ago and his transfer by force to Iran, where he stood trial. After the sentencing, she appealed to both US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to further pressure the regime in Tehran for the release of her father. Gazelle Sharmahd did not openly criticize the actions taken by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, but other activists are noting that only public pressure on the Berlin government could save Sharmahd.
