[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H2855-H2857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EMANCIPATION OF IRANIAN BAHA'I COMMUNITY
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 102), concerning the emancipation
of the Iranian Baha'i community.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 102
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 has 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 House of Representatives (the Senate
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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York [Mr. Gilman] and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran] will each
be recognized for 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of House
Concurrent Resolution 102, concerning the emancipation of the Iranian
Baha'i community and would like to urge all house Members to support
this timely, important measure. I congratulate the Gentleman from
Illinois [Mr. Porter] for again championing this important cause by
introducing this measure. This resolution is the latest in a series of
resolutions concerning the continuing repression of the Baha'i
community, and other religious minorities in Iran that have been
adopted by the Congress since 1982.
It is truly a sad irony that since its founding the Baha'i religion,
which itself poses no threat to secular authority anywhere, has been
singled out for such harsh repression in Iran and other parts of the
Middle East. I salute those who have courageously maintained their
faith in the face of repression and who have too often paid the supreme
price for their belief.
The closing years of this century have been marred by a resurgence of
the brutality and horrors that have shaped much of its history. What we
witness today in such places as Iran serves as a stark reminder that
the struggle for human rights is constant. While we can learn from our
unfortunate history and our past mistakes, we can never desist from our
defense of international human rights standards. Men and governments
always seem to have the tragic capability of repeating the barbarisms
of the past in new and unforeseen ways despite all of the institutions
created in the course of this bloody century to prevent mankind from
tearing itself apart.
[[Page H2856]]
This resolution allows us to once again express our outrage and
revulsion with regard to the brutal and systematic denial of one of the
most basic of human freedoms--freedom of conscience--which has been
denied by the Mullahs of Iran.
Each time we consider these resolutions it seems that there has been
a new twist added to the outrages Iranian authorities have perpetrated
against their own citizens. Last month, we received distressing reports
from Iran about the conviction and sentencing to death of an Iranian
Baha'i for apostasy. Not only does this have sinister implications for
the long-suffering Baha'i community of Iran, but for other religious
minorities in that country as well.
Iran's brutal treatment of the Baha'i and other religious minorities
has also been the subject of concern within the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights. The Commission's Special Rapporteur on
Religious Intolerance has singled out the case of the Baha'i in Iran as
an egregious example of interference with the right to freedom of
conscience and of worship. The UN's Special Rapporteur calls upon the
Iranian authorities to ease restrictions upon adherents to the Baha'i
faith.
The United States has spoken out consistently and repeatedly on
Iran's continued brutal repression of the Baha'i. In its latest Human
Rights Report, the State Department includes Iran among the few
countries that are the very worst abusers of the rights of their own
citizens in the world. The treatment of the Iranian Baha'i community
epitomizes the character of the Iranian regime--its intolerance and its
brutality.
We owe it to the victims of this repressive regime to continue to
raise this issue in international human rights forums, and to press
those governments that conduct commerce and diplomatic relations with
the Government of Iran to use their influence and speak out against
these outrages. Resolutions of the Congress, such as the one we now
consider, representing the clear voice of the American people, are
invaluable tools for our diplomats in bodies such as the U.N. Human
Rights Commission, which is now meeting in Geneva. I hope my colleagues
will join with me in supporting House Concurrent Resolution 102.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution makes an important statement, that the
Congress continues to hold the Government of Iran responsible for
upholding the rights of all of its nationals, including members of the
Baha'i community.
Concern about Iran continues to rise to the surface of our foreign
policy horizon. Much of the focus has been on trade, on Iran's role in
terrorism, its efforts to subvert governments in the Middle East, in
North Africa, and its nuclear dealings with Russia and China.
This resolution helps in keeping our focus on Iran's dismal record on
human rights. Among the many other issues we have with that Government,
Iran's denial of religious rights, the abuse of its citizens and
violations of internationally recognized human rights are of deepest
concern to this Congress. We make that message clear by passing this
resolution.
Our last resolution, which was adopted unanimously 2 years ago, was
reiterated by the United Nations and the German Bundestag and the
European Parliament condemning Iran's persecution of Baha'is. In some
limited instances, Iran has responded to this pressure. There in some
evidence that the persecution of individual Baha'is in Iran is less
severe today than it was several years ago. But let there be no doubt.
The Baha'i community is still an oppressed minority and is denied
rights to organize, elect leaders, conduct religious schools and other
religious activities.
Their religion is really all about achieving a peaceful world
brotherhood. It is not something we would consider to be threatening in
this country, but it is a reflection of Iran's intent that it is
threatening to them.
We must continue to work to end this discrimination against the
Baha'is and all who are denied basic civil rights, and so we would urge
adoption of this resolution as one more appropriate step toward that
goal.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois [Mr. Porter].
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I again thank the chairman for yielding this
time to me and would again commend him for his strong support of
Baha'is. Throughout his service in the Congress he has made the
protection of the minorities one of his highest priorities, and he has
continuously strongly supported the Baha'i minority in Iran, not only
with votes, but by speaking out repeatedly on the floor of the House
and wherever he has gone about the plight of the Baha'is at the hands
of the revolutionary government of Iran, and I commend him for his
leadership.
Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 102, the Baha'i Community
Emancipation Resolution, condemns the Government of Iran for denying
the 300,000 people of the Baha'i Iranian community their basic human
rights. Since the fundamentalist Islamic regime took power in 1979,
hundreds of Baha'is the largest religious minority in Iran, have been
executed, and thousands have been imprisoned solely because of their
religion. Because the regime does not recognize the Baha'i faith,
calling it a conspiracy and a heresy, tens of thousands of Baha'is are
today deprived of jobs, housing, schools, and other social services.
Furthermore, it is common practice for Baha'is to be denied pensions
and food ration cards purely because of their religious affiliation.
Mr. Speaker, the Baha'i religion is founded upon the nine dominant
religions of the world, including, of course, Islam, and draws on the
teachings of all of them as the basis of its faith. There are organized
Baha'i assemblies in more than 100,000 localities in over 342 countries
and territories.
{time} 1515
Intolerance, Mr. Speaker, is the trail of the backward, the ignorant,
and the insecure. In Iran, intolerance of Baha'is, people who threaten
no one and who accede to legitimate, civil authority wherever they
reside, defines not the Baha'is, but the Iranian fundamentalists.
In 1993, an official Government document obtained in Iran confirmed
for the first time that the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i community
has been a calculated policy written and approved by Iran's highest
ranking officials. This document reveals that the Iranian policy is to
repress Baha'is at every opportunity while maintaining official
deniability for such actions. While the document states that Baha'is is
will not be expelled or arrested without reason, it makes evident that
the Iranian Government's intent is to isolate, persecute, and
ultimately destroy the Baha'is.
In the mid 1980's, diplomatic pressure and negative publicity forced
the Iranian leadership to lessen the severity of their grievous
official campaign against Baha'is. There is strong evidence that
congressional resolutions, together with appeals by other nations and
the United Nations, helped to persuade Iranian officials to moderate
their actions against the Baha'i community.
There are disturbing signals, however, that the repression of Baha'is
has increased during this past year. We cannot be sure how many Baha'is
are jailed at any moment. Apparently, there is a new trend by the
Iranian authorities to carry out an increasing number of short-term
arrests in various parts of the country. Baha'is are rotated through
the prison system for varying lengths of confinement making it
impossible to know who will be incarcerated when and for how long.
Tragically, the situation has very recently taken a turn for the worse.
Mr. Speaker, just last month a Baha'i was found guilty of apostasy by
the Revolutionary Court of Yazd and was sentenced to death. His crime?
He was accused of changing his religion from Islam to the Baha'i faith.
The Iranian Supreme Court, in an unusual move, set aside the verdict
and sent the case back to a lower court for review. If this man is
executed, he will be the first Baha'i executed since 1992.
Mr. Speaker, Iran must continue to be ostracized from the community
of nations until its conduct can begin to approach a respect for the
basic rights of each human being to live, worship, and speak according
to the dictates of his or her own conscience. Since 1982,
[[Page H2857]]
the Congress has adopted six resolutions expressing its concern for
persecuted Baha'is in Iran, and condemning the repressive anti-Baha'i
policies and actions of the Iranian Government. In 1994, the resolution
was adopted by a recorded voted of 414 to 0. Mr. Speaker, with the
passage of this resolution today, Congress will once again go on record
in support of the basic rights of Baha'is and other religious
minorities in Iran. I strongly urge the adoption of this resolution.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his supportive
remarks.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith], the distinguished chairman of
our Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights of the
Committee on International Relations.
(Mr. SMITH of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding time to me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution
102. I think it is a very good resolution and I want to commend the
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter] for his leadership on behalf of
the Baha'is and on behalf of human rights.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of persecution of the Baha'is is unfortunately
not a new one in the House. Congress has passed a half-dozen
resolutions condemning the vicious persecution of the Baha'is at the
hands of the regime in Tehran, but the persecution continues.
Mr. Speaker, there is little I can add to the resolution and to the
excellent comments that have been made so far. The Baha'is clearly are
a peace-loving community, members of a religion that had its origin in
Iran but that has adherents all over the world, including here in the
United States. The extremist regime in Iran considers the Baha'i
religion to be a heresy, a group apostasy, so it persecutes them with
even more severity than it does Christians, Jews, or other Muslims.
Mr. Speaker, I particularly want to call to the Congress' attention
the fact that there are at least four members of the Baha'i faith that
now are at risk of death in Iran. The gentleman from Illinois [Mr.
Porter] mentioned one whose sentence has been remanded back to a lower
court for review, and we hope this resolution sends a clear,
unmistakable message that religious intolerance will not be tolerated
by civilized countries, and that it will bring more scrutiny and more
condemnation on the regime run by Rafsanjani.
I think it is very important that we speak, as we have, as Democrats,
Republicans, as conservatives, moderates, and liberals, that we believe
that the Baha'is have a right not just to exist, but to express
themselves, to practice their religion as they see fit.
We support the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights,
the religious intolerance acts that have been passed by the United
Nations. Every year the Human Rights Convention in Geneva looks at
religious persecution and speaks out on it. My hope is that they will
say to Tehran, ``No more,'' that cooler heads will prevail, and those
who are being persecuted simply because they want to practice their
faith as they see fit will no longer find themselves being tortured,
incarcerated, and, even worse, put to death. I commend the gentleman
from Illinois [Mr. Porter] for his excellent resolution.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Ney].
(Mr. NEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to make a couple of statements on
this resolution. First, I commend the gentleman from Illinois [Mr.
Porter] for bringing this forth to the floor of this House, and also
commend the House for continuing to keep the pressure on this issue. I
think the previous speakers have pointed out why we need to do that.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to state that I myself lived in
Iran, in a southern city called Shiraz. I was there during the
revolution in 1978 of the Shaw of Iran. People would talk over the
years about prejudice. Prejudice can exist in any country toward a
people or toward a religion. There may have been some internal
prejudice in 1978 and prior toward the Baha'i religion, but I want to
tell the Members, Baha'is were not pulled out into the street and
executed.
This regime, let us make no bones about it, goes beyond the thoughts
of prejudice toward the Baha'i, and they have executed people, they
have forced families to purchase the bullets that their loved ones were
executed with.
This is a brutal regime in Iran that has carried out assassinations
toward members of the resistance in Europe recently. This is a regime
that promotes terrorism around the world. As we know, even in Bosnia,
as we speak this year they were active there and around the world to
persecute people. I believe that the world needs to be constantly made
aware and to promote and push the point of what is being done to the
peaceful Baha'i people.
I just want to again stress that if we do not keep up this type of
pressure, it will be forgotten. This has helped in the past, and I want
to commend the Members for what they are doing today, on behalf of the
Baha'i people.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his
supportive remarks.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House
Concurrent Resolution 102.
The question was taken.
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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