[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 175 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 175

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                      October 22, 2009.
Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2006, and 2008, 
        Congress declared that it deplored the religious persecution by the 
        Government of Iran of the Baha'i community and would hold the Government 
        of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all Iranian nationals, 
        including members of the Baha'i faith;
Whereas in November 2007, the Iranian Ministry of Information in Shiraz jailed 
        Baha'is Ms. Raha Sabet, 33, Mr. Sasan Taqva, 32, and Ms. Haleh Roohi, 29 
        for ostensibly ``indirectly teaching the Baha'i Faith'' and ``engaging 
        in anti-government propaganda'' while educating underprivileged children 
        and gave them 4-year prison terms, which they are serving;
Whereas Ms. Sabet, Mr. Taqva, and Ms. Rooshi were targeted solely on the basis 
        of their religion;
Whereas, on January 23, 2008, the United States Department of State released a 
        statement urging the Iranian regime to release all individuals held 
        without due process and a fair trial, including the 3 young Baha'is 
        being held in an Iranian Ministry of Intelligence detention center in 
        Shiraz;
Whereas in March and May of 2008, Iranian intelligence officials in Mashhad and 
        Tehran arrested and imprisoned Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin 
        Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mrs. 
        Mahvash Sabet, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm, the members of the coordinating 
        group for the Baha'i community in Iran;
Whereas these seven leaders have been imprisoned for well over a year and are 
        yet to stand trial, the trial having been delayed multiple times;
Whereas official Iranian media has announced they will face charges of 
        ``espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda 
        against the Islamic Republic'';
Whereas these seven Baha'i leaders were targeted solely on the basis of their 
        religion; and
Whereas the Government of Iran is party to the International Covenants on Human 
        Rights: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored 
        persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the 
        International Covenants on Human Rights;
            (2) calls on the Government of Iran to immediately release the seven 
        leaders and all other prisoners held solely on account of their 
        religion, including: Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, 
        Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mrs. Mahvash 
        Sabet, Mr. Vahid Tizfahm, Ms. Raha Sabet, Mr. Sasan Taqva, and Ms. Haleh 
        Roohi; and
            (3) calls on the President and Secretary of State, in cooperation 
        with responsible nations, to immediately condemn Iran's continued 
        violation of human rights and demand the immediate release of prisoners 
        held solely on account of their religion, including Mrs. Fariba 
        Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, 
        Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, Mr. Vahid Tizfahm, Ms. Raha 
        Sabet, Mr. Sasan Taqva, and Ms. Haleh Roohi.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.