Statement by the EU on the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd

The European Union condemns in the strongest terms the execution in Iran of German-Iranian national Jamshid Sharmahd.

 The European Union offers its condolences to Mr. Sharmahd's family and expresses its full solidarity with Germany.

Jamshid Sharmahd was illegally abducted to Iran and held for years under inhumane conditions without a fair trial.

The European Union continues to call on Iran to refrain from any future executions and pursue a consistent policy towards the abolition of capital punishment.

The European Union reiterates its call on Iran to end the distressing practice of detaining foreign civilians and dual nationals with a view to making political gains. Iranian restrictions on consular access to our citizens, the denial of consular protection and fair trial are not acceptable and stand in direct violation of international law.

The death penalty violates the inalienable right to life enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and it is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, incompatible with human dignity. The European Union reaffirms its strong and unequivocal opposition to the use of death penalty at all times, in all places and in all circumstances, especially taking into account the alarming increase in executions recorded in Iran last year and this year.

The execution of a European citizen is seriously harming relations between Iran and the European Union. In view of this appalling development, the European Union will now consider targeted and significant measures.