UN human rights experts have condemned the death of journalist and activist Jamshid Sharmahd, who died in Iranian detention after years of arbitrary imprisonment. Sharmahd, a dual Iranian-German citizen, was arrested in 2020 under questionable circumstances and held without legal due process, prompting widespread international outrage.
In a statement released on Wednesday, UN experts described Sharmahd’s death as “appalling,” particularly as it followed years of mistreatment, including kidnapping and numerous violations of fundamental rights, notably his right to a fair trial. His body was returned to Germany on February 7, sparking further condemnation over the delay and lack of respect for the family’s right to a dignified return.
Sharmahd, 69, was detained in the United Arab Emirates before being forcibly transferred to Iran, where he was sentenced to death for “corruption on Earth” in 2023, a charge often used to justify executions in Iran. Despite reports of his death in November 2024, it was not confirmed until recently, raising additional concerns about the circumstances surrounding his passing.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had already declared Sharmahd’s detention illegal, labeling it arbitrary due to his abduction and lack of any lawful judicial process. As a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Iran is obligated to uphold the protections of life, freedom from arbitrary detention, and the right to a fair trial, all of which were violated in Sharmahd’s case.
The case has sparked renewed criticism of Iran’s human rights record, particularly its use of the death penalty and suppression of dissent. At the 48th session of the Universal Periodic Review, multiple countries voiced concerns over Iran’s crackdown on freedoms, including the recent sentencing of individuals to death for a variety of offenses, such as blasphemy.
As the international community calls for accountability, Sharmahd’s death highlights the ongoing risks faced by activists and journalists in Iran, where human rights abuses remain widespread.
