[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 42 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 42

      Concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Baha'i community.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             February 9 (legislative day, February 7), 1996

 Mrs. Kassebaum (for herself, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. McCain, Mr. 
Mack, Mr. D'Amato, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Simon, Mr. Glenn, 
 Mr. Cohen, Mr. Specter, Mr. Pell, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Levin, 
   Mr. Kohl, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Helms, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
   Inouye, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Craig, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Chafee, and Mr. 
  Grassley) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
      Concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Baha'i community.

Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994 the Congress, by concurrent 
        resolution, declared that it holds the Government of Iran responsible 
        for upholding the rights of all its nationals, including members of the 
        Baha'i Faith, Iran's largest religious minority;
Whereas the Congress has deplored the Government of Iran's religious persecution 
        of the Baha'i community in such resolutions and in numerous other 
        appeals, and has condemned Iran's execution of more than 200 Baha'is and 
        the imprisonment of thousands of others solely on account of their 
        religious beliefs;
Whereas the Government of Iran continues to deny individual Baha'is access to 
        higher education and government employment and denies recognition and 
        religious rights to the Baha'i community, according to the policy set 
        forth in a confidential Iranian Government document which was revealed 
        by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1993;
Whereas all Baha'i community properties in Iran have been confiscated by the 
        government and Iranian Baha'is are not permitted to elect their leaders, 
        organize as a community, operate religious schools or conduct other 
        religious community activities guaranteed by the Universal Declaration 
        of Human Rights; and
Whereas on February 22, 1993, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 
        published a formerly confidential Iranian Government document that 
        constitutes a blueprint for the destruction of the Baha'i community and 
        reveals that these repressive actions are the result of a deliberate 
        policy designed and approved by the highest officials of the Government 
        of Iran: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) continues to hold the Government of Iran responsible 
        for upholding the rights of all its nationals, including 
        members of the Baha'i community, in a manner consistent with 
        Iran's obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human 
        Rights and other international agreements guaranteeing the 
        civil and political rights of its citizens;
            (2) condemns the repressive anti-Baha'i policies and 
        actions of the Government of Iran, including the denial of 
        legal recognition to the Baha'i community and the basic rights 
        to organize, elect its leaders, educate its youth, and conduct 
        the normal activities of a law-abiding religious community;
            (3) expresses concern that individual Baha'is continue to 
        suffer from severely repressive and discriminatory government 
        actions, solely on account of their religion;
            (4) urges the Government of Iran to extend to the Baha'i 
        community the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of 
        Human Rights and the international covenants of human rights, 
        including the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and 
        equal protection of the law; and
            (5) calls upon the President to continue--
                    (A) to assert the United States Government's 
                concern regarding Iran's violations of the rights of 
                its citizens, including members of the Baha'i 
                community, along with expressions of its concern 
                regarding the Iranian Government's support for 
                international terrorism and its efforts to acquire 
                weapons of mass destruction;
                    (B) to emphasize that the United States regards the 
                human rights practices of the Government of Iran, 
                particularly its treatment of the Baha'i community and 
                other religious minorities, as a significant factor in 
                the development of the United States Government's 
                relations with the Government of Iran;
                    (C) to urge the Government of Iran to emancipate 
                the Baha'i community by granting those rights 
                guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
                and the international covenants on human rights; and
                    (D) to encourage other governments to continue to 
                appeal to the Government of Iran, and to cooperate with 
                other governments and international organizations, 
                including the United Nations and its agencies, in 
                efforts to protect the religious rights of the Baha'is 
                and other minorities through joint appeals to the 
                Government of Iran and through other appropriate 
                actions.
                                 <all>