[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                               THE BAHAIS

  Mr. Pell. Mr. President, earlier this year, the Congress passed 
legislation calling attention to the plight of the Bahai community in 
Iran. Senate Concurrent Resolution 31, introduced by Senators Dodd, 
Lieberman, Kassebaum, McCain, myself and others was passed unanimously 
by both the House and Senate. In taking this step the Congress chose 
for the sixth time since 1982 to express its concern about the 
Government of Iran's persecution of the Bahais.
  The Bahais are the largest minority faith in Iran. The Iranian 
Government, however, refuses to acknowledge that the Bahais represent a 
legitimate sect of Islam. Simply because the Bahais choose to practice 
their faith, the Government of Iran has branded them heretics and has 
officially sanctioned their mistreatment, harassment, and outright 
persecution.
  Today, Mr. President, I wish to reaffirm my strong opposition to 
Iran's unconscionable treatment of the Bahais. I wish also to inform my 
colleagues that President Clinton, in a recent letter to the Senate co-
sponsors of Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 expressed his deep concern 
about the persecution of the Bahais. In one of the strongest statements 
to emerge from a U.S. administration concerning the Bahais in Iran, 
President Clinton stated that, ``We must continue to be vigilant in 
calling attention to the plight of the Bahais.'' The President added 
that, ``We will continue to urge the leadership of Iran to improve its 
treatment of religious minorities and to do more to protect the basic 
human and civil rights of its citizens.''
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the full texts of Senate 
Concurrent Resolution 31, a letter to the President from the Senate 
cosponsors of that resolution, and the President's reply all be 
included in the Record at this point.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                    Washington, DC, July 21, 1994.
     The President
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: The purpose of this letter is to 
     commend to your attention recent legislative action on Senate 
     Concurrent Resolution 31, a measure we introduced last year 
     that calls on Iran to end its persecution of the Baha'i 
     community. This legislation, which gained 52 Senate 
     cosponsors and passed the Senate by a unanimous vote in 
     November, was adopted by the House of Representatives by a 
     414-0 vote on April 19th.
       We are pleased that the Congress has chosen, for the sixth 
     time since 1982, to convey its deep sense of concern over the 
     officially-sponsored repression that has been directed 
     against Baha'is since the Iranian Revolution. While this 
     repression has been less violent in recent years, we remain 
     concerned that the Baha'is--Iran's largest religious 
     minority--continue to be singled out for persecution based on 
     their religious beliefs. Indeed, this policy was made 
     explicit in an official Iranian Government document that was 
     revealed last year.
       We know that you are committed to the cause of human 
     freedom and civil liberties in Iran and that you are 
     determined to take actions which serve to promote these 
     important goals. To this end we urge the administration to 
     continue its leadership and diplomatic efforts on the issue 
     of the Baha'is and to continue to speak out in support of the 
     cause of tolerance and freedom in Iran through the Voice of 
     America and other appropriate public channels.
       We welcome all you have done on behalf of the Baha'i 
     community of Iran and we look forward to continuing to work 
     with you in the future on this very important issue.
           Sincerely,
     Joseph I. Lieberman,
     Christopher J. Dodd,
     Nancy Landon Kassebaum,
     Claiborne Pell,
     John McCain.
                                  ____



                                              The White House,

                                      Washington, August 23, 1994.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for writing to me about the 
     recent efforts of the Congress to call attention to the 
     persecution of Baha'is by the Government of Iran. I am deeply 
     concerned about the situation that faces the Baha'is, as well 
     as other religious minorities, in Iran. My Administration 
     will continue to work to create an international consensus to 
     influence Iran to change its behavior on human rights.
       Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 is a useful reminder that 
     we must continue to be vigilant in calling attention to the 
     plight of the Baha'is. I can assure you that we will continue 
     to urge the leadership of Iran to improve its treatment of 
     religious minorities and to do more to protect the basic 
     human and civil rights of its citizens.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Bill Clinton.
                                  ____

     Hon. Claiborne Pell,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

                            S. Con. Res. 225

       Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, and 1992, 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 in such resolutions and in numerous other appeals, 
     the Congress condemned the Government of Iran's religious 
     persecution of the Baha'i community, including the execution 
     of more than 200 Baha'is, the imprisonment of additional 
     thousands, and other repressive and discriminatory actions 
     against Baha'is based solely upon their religious beliefs;
       Whereas in 1992, the Government of Iran summarily executed 
     a leading member of the Baha'i community, arrested and 
     imprisoned several other Baha'is, condemned two Baha'i 
     prisoners to death on account of their religion, and 
     confiscated individual Baha'is' homes and personal properties 
     in several cities;
       Whereas the Government of Iran continues to deny the Baha'i 
     community the right to organize, to elect its leaders, to 
     hold community property for worship or assembly, to operate 
     religious schools and to conduct other normal religious 
     community activities; and
       Whereas on February 22, 1993, the United Nations Commission 
     on Human Rights published a formerly confidential Iranian 
     government document constituting a blueprint for the 
     destruction of the Baha'i community, which document 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 policy adopted by 
     the Government of Iran, as set forth in a confidential 
     official document which explicitly states that Baha'i shall 
     be denied access to education and employment, and that the 
     government's policy is to deal with Baha'is ``in such a way 
     that their progress and development are blocked'';
       (3) expresses concern that individual Baha'is continue to 
     suffer from severely repressive and discriminatory government 
     actions, solely on account of their religion; and that the 
     Baha'i community continues to be denied legal recognition and 
     the basic rights to organize, elect its leaders, educate its 
     youth, and conduct the normal activities of a law-abiding 
     religious community;
       (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 on 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 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;
       (B) 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
       (C) 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.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy 
     of this concurrent resolution to the President.

                          ____________________