Germany declares 2 employees of Iranian embassy undesirable persons

Germany has expelled two Iranian diplomats over the death sentence imposed in Iran against one of its citizens, Report informs referring to The Times of Israel.

Authorities in Iran announced on February 21 that Jamshid Sharmahd, a 67-year-old Iranian-German national and US resident, was sentenced to death after being convicted of terrorist activities.

Iran claims Sharmahd is the leader of the armed wing of a group advocating the restoration of the monarchy that was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but his family said he was merely the spokesman for the opposition group and denies he was involved in any attacks.

They accuse Iranian intelligence of abducting him from Dubai in 2020. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires in Berlin and informed him that “we will not accept this massive breach of a German citizen’s rights.”

“As a consequence, the German government has declared two members of the Iranian embassy unwanted persons and asked them to leave Germany at short notice,” she said.

“We demand that Iran revokes the death sentence against Jamshid Sharmahd and allows him to have an appeal that is fair and in line with the rule of law.”