[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7065-S7066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IRANIAN BAHA'I COMMUNITY EMANCIPATION

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of House Concurrent Resolution 
102.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (H.Con.Res. 102) concerning the 
     emancipation of the Iranian Baha'i community.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the concurrent resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, the Senate today will adopt 
legislation condemning Iran's persecution of the Baha'i community. We 
have taken similar action in the past, and I regret that our continued 
vigilance on this matter is required.
  We choose today to adopt this legislation in remembrance of a great 
tragedy for the Baha'i community and for all who value human rights and 
religious freedom. Thirteen years ago this month, Iranian religious 
officials executed, by hanging, 10 Baha'i women--including 3 teenage 
girls--in the city of Shiraz.
  This killing of innocent women and children came amid a series of 
Baha'i executions during the first half of 1983. At the time, President 
Reagan had expressed America's alarm at the religious persecution of 
the Baha'is in Iran and had called upon the Iranian leadership to spare 
the lives of those Baha'is condemned to death in Shiraz. The Iranian 
response to this plea was to carry out without hesitation the schedule 
of June executions.
  We know that those men, women, and children were executed not for any 
crimes but for their religious beliefs. We also know the persecution 
continues to this day in many forms, both great and small.
  Thirty-nine other Senators have joined with me in sponsoring this 
legislation, and the Senate today will unanimously adopt an identical 
resolution already passed by the House of Representatives. By today's 
action, the U.S. Senate once again will make clear to all who will 
listen: ``We have not forgotten.''
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, at many times during the past 14 years 
the Congress has condemned the Government of Iran for its repressive 
policies and actions toward its Baha'i community. Today, I am honored 
to be celebrating the passage of a resolution which calls on Iran to 
change its repressive anti-Baha'i policies and to protect the rights of 
all its people including religious minority groups such as the Baha'is. 
The concurrent resolution we are adopting today is similar to the one 
which Senator Kassebaum, Senator McCain, Senator Dodd, and I submitted 
in this body in February.
  Congress has adopted six previous resolutions on this important 
issue. The record of their success is certainly a mixed one, at best. 
Since their enactment, many Baha'is have been penalized by the 
government, and some even sentenced to death, just because of their 
religious beliefs. On the contrary, previous resolutions have shown 
some success as well, particularly in the case of one man who had been 
sentenced to death for his religious convictions. This man's life was 
saved as the apostasy case was later overturned by the courts in Iran. 
Although the relationship between the Baha'is and the Iranian 
Government has improved since the first resolution was passed, not 
enough action has been taken. This open policy of repression is in 
clear violation of the obligation of sovereign states to uphold the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  In the past, President Clinton and former Presidents Reagan and Bush 
have all shown support of the Baha'is. The United Nations and many of 
its member states have also adopted numerous resolutions supporting 
religious freedom in Iran. Today, in adopting this concurrent 
resolution, we have succeeded in maintaining vigilance on the actions 
of Iranian Government. Only through continued support for change in the 
Iranian regime can over 300,000 Baha'is experience true religious 
freedom.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be considered and agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and 
the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any 
statements relating to the resolution appeared in the appropriate place 
in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

[[Page S7066]]

  The concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 102) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.

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