Geneva, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, February 12, 2025
UN human rights experts* today expressed their dismay over the confirmation of the death in custody of Jamshid Sharmahd in Iran.
The body of Sharmahd, who was reported to have died in custody in October 2024, has been released by Iran recently. “His death in custody and the delay in the dignified return of his body to the family violate their human rights and cause additional mental suffering,” the experts said.
“The death of the 69-year-old after years of arbitrary detention is appalling especially considering he was subjected to kidnapping, and violations of numerous fundamental rights including his right to a fair trial,” they said.
Sharmahd, born in Iran, was a naturalised citizen of Germany and lived in the United States. He was a journalist and activist who had criticised the Government of Iran through his website.
In 2020, while transiting in the United Arab Emirates during a business trip, he was subjected to an ‘extraordinary rendition’ by the Iranian authorities, who arrested him without a warrant.
