GLA, advocates and supporters from several nations press germany and the us to secure the release of german national, US resident from California, Jamshid sharmahd

Alexandria, Virginia - In a letter to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock an international coalition of human rights advocates, including former hostages held by Iran, pressed Germany to do more to secure the release of Mr. Jamshid Sharmahd, a German national and US resident kidnapped in the UAE by Iran. 

Mr. Sharmahd had to make a three-day stopover at Dubai Airport in August 2020 on a trip from Germany to India. During that layover, he lost contact with his family in California. A few days later, Iranian state media broadcasted images of a blindfolded Mr. Sharmahd. Iran officials admitted that he had been kidnapped by the Islamic Republic's secret service and taken to Iran - another hostage in Iran's hostage-taking machine.

In the letter to Germany's Foreign Minister, attached below in English and German, the campaign urged Minister Baerbock to "act immediately to prevent the planned state assassination of Mr Sharmahd. We urge that the matter be given top priority, that a crisis management team be set up, and that the German government exhaust all political and diplomatic avenues to put pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Due to the special circumstances surrounding this matter, efforts are also underway in Washington, D.C. to press American policymakers to do more to help Mr. Sharmahd, a long-time California resident.  The United States and Germany are key players in nuclear talks with Iran taking place in Vienna, Austria and a special obligation to help secure the release of Mr. Sharmahd and all foreigners held hostage by Iran.  To learn more about this case, please click on this link.