[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 105 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9484-S9485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN IRAN

 Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, on December 10, 1948--nearly 50 
years ago--the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and 
proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and called on 
member nations ``to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and 
expounded . . . `` Since that time, the Universal Declaration has 
become the bedrock document for human rights standards and aspirations 
for signatory governments.
  One government, however, the government of Iran, is distinguished as 
an egregious violator of a central principle this document expounds--
namely, that of religious freedom. Article 18 of the Universal 
Declaration explicitly states: ``Everyone has the right to freedom of 
thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change 
his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with 
others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in 
teaching, practice, worship and observance.''
  On Tuesday, July 21st, the Iranian government summarily executed an 
Iranian Baha'i for the single alleged act of converting a Muslim to the 
Baha'i faith. The Baha'is are Iran's largest religious minority with 
about 300,000 adherents and suffer continuous persecution for their 
faith.
  The executed, Mr. Ruhollah Rowhani, a medical equipment salesman with 
four children, had been picked-up near the northern Iranian city of 
Mashad by the Iranian authorities in September 1997. He was held in 
solitary confinement during that extended period until final execution.
  The facts are stark in their cruelty. His family was allowed to visit 
him briefly the day before his execution but, amazingly and cynically, 
they were not notified that his execution was set for the next day. 
They finally discovered the death only after they were given one hour 
to arrange for his burial. With brutal disregard, the Iranian 
government refused to divulge any information to this grieving family 
who were forced to conclude from the rope marks that their beloved 
relative had been executed by hanging.
  It is safe to say that Mr. Rowhani was accorded no due process nor 
afforded a lawyer prior to his execution. He died alone at the end of a 
rope for the alleged sin of sharing his sincerely held faith. I will 
state this very clearly--Mr. Rowhani was the victim of the most extreme 
form of religious persecution. Mr. Rowhani died for his faith and this 
is an outrage which must be denounced.
  Mr. President, this barbarous act flies in the face of the Universal 
Declaration to which Iran is party. Mr. Rowhani had a fundamental right 
to practice his religion. Iran denied him that right. Mr. Rowhani had a 
fundamental right to a public trial. Iran denied him that right. Mr. 
Rowhani had a fundamental right to counsel. Iran denied him that right. 
Mr. Rowhani had a fundamental right to NOT be hung at the end of a rope 
for holding minority religious beliefs.
  My deepest concern now rests with the fifteen other Baha'is now being 
held by the government of Iran for essentially the same charges that 
resulted in Mr. Rowhani's execution. As I speak now, at least three 
Baha'i men in the city of Mashad presently sit on death row, facing 
imminent execution

[[Page S9485]]

because they dared to quietly celebrate their faith. I speak as much 
for them today as I do in protest to the brutal killing of their 
fellow-believer.
  This hour, I call on the Government of Iran to ensure the safety of 
these individuals. Better yet, I call for the release of these 
individuals whose only crime was the sincere expression of their faith, 
which happens to be a minority religion. Most importantly, I call upon 
the government of Iran to provide freedom of religion to its people, 
including the famously peaceful yet brutalized Baha'is community.
  I want to take this opportunity to commend the international 
community for its swift response to Mr. Rowhani's execution and urge 
other governments and organizations to vigilantly monitor the fate of 
the 15 jailed Baha'is, particularly the 3 jailed in Mashad presently 
facing the death penalty.
  Religious persecution demands a tireless counter response; it demands 
a vigilant defense. If we hold the principle of religious freedom to be 
a precious and fundamental right, something worth protecting, then we 
must always defend those who are wrongfully and brutally crushed for 
their faith by hostile national governments.
  We cannot bring Mr. Rowhani back or right the wrong that was done to 
him and his family, but we can advocate against this happening again. 
Iran must abide by global human rights principles. Accordingly, Iran 
must release the fifteen Bahai who have been incarcerated for their 
faith. Iran must preserve the lives of those facing execution for their 
faith. Iran must honor its commitment to the religious freedom 
principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and set these 
prisoners free.

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