[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 50 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 50

 Expressing the sense of Congress concerning the continuous repression 
of freedom of expression and assembly, and of individual human rights, 
  in Iran, as exemplified by the recent repression of the democratic 
                           movement of Iran.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 4, 1999

  Mr. Brownback (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lott, Mr. Helms, Mr. 
Graham, Mr. Mack, Mr. Wellstone, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
 concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress concerning the continuous repression 
of freedom of expression and assembly, and of individual human rights, 
  in Iran, as exemplified by the recent repression of the democratic 
                           movement of Iran.

Whereas freedom of expression and assembly, individual human rights, and pursuit 
        of democratic ideals have been systematically repressed by the 
        government of Iran;
Whereas in recent months several members of the press and other individuals who 
        peacefully criticized the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran were 
        assassinated by elements that are now known to have belonged to the 
        Iranian government's security forces;
Whereas this continuous repression of freedom has been once more exemplified by 
        the vicious and unjustifiable assault by the government of Iran and its 
        vigilantes on students who marched peacefully and within the law on July 
        8, 1999, to protest, on the grounds of democracy, freedom of the press, 
        and individual and civil rights, the closure of a reformist newspaper, 
        Salaam;
Whereas the Iranian government forces and vigilantes killed, wounded, and 
        incarcerated students and destroyed their dormitories, rooms, and 
        belongings;
Whereas the Iranian government now has accused falsely and unjustifiably a 
        number of students and other seekers of democracy and human rights of 
        high crimes, theoretically punishable by death under Iranian law; and
Whereas freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental human rights which 
        are recognized as such under the United Nations Declaration of Human 
        Rights: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),

SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE REPRESSION OF THE DEMOCRATIC 
              MOVEMENT OF IRAN.

    (a) Condemnation.--Congress hereby condemns the repressive actions 
taken by the Iranian government against the democratic movement of 
Iran.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Iranian government should respect the fundamental 
        principles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human 
        Rights and, thereby, to cease its repression of peaceful 
        dissent and to release unharmed the student leaders and the 
        other pro democracy activists the government continues to 
        detain;
            (2) the President of the United States should give clear 
        voice to--
                    (A) the abhorrence of the American people for the 
                violence used against the Iranian students and pro-
                democracy activists; and
                    (B) the solidarity of the United States with the 
                values and objectives that the students and activists 
                have espoused;
            (3) the European allies of the United States, who maintain 
        political and economic relations with Iran, should convey their 
        own concerns and objections to the Iranian authorities;
            (4) the Secretary of State should urge the Secretary 
        General of the United Nations to exercise his influence with 
        the Iranian government to secure the release of the student 
        leaders and other pro-democracy activists who are now being 
        detained and whose lives are threatened;
            (5) the Secretary of State should urge the United Nations 
        High Commissioner for Human Rights to convey her concern for 
        the safety of the Iranian student leaders and other pro-
        democracy activists to the Iranian government and should assist 
        in securing their prompt release; and
            (6) the United States delegate to the United Nations Sub-
        Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of 
        Minorities, at its upcoming meeting, should introduce a 
        resolution calling for the release of the Iranian student 
        leaders and other pro-democracy activists and the termination 
        of repressive actions against the nonviolent and democratic 
        student movement of Iran.
                                 <all>