[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1615-E1616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    EXECUTION OF BAHA'I IN IRAN--PERSECUTION OF MINORITY RELIGIONS 
                               CONTINUES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, it was with cautious hope that we observed 
last year the election of a ``moderate'' leader of Iran and the first 
tentative signs that the government of Iran might be willing to rejoin 
the community of nations. Iranian President Mohammed Khatami addressed 
the American people and expressed his dedication to the principles of 
freedom, justice, and the rule of law for all Iranians. Unfortunately, 
it appears that Iran's hardliners, led by Ayatollah Khomenni, remain 
committed to keeping Iran a pariah state and are apparently using 
Iran's largest religious minority, the Baha'is, to send a rebuke to 
both the moderates in Iran and to the international community.

[[Page E1616]]

  On July 21st, the government of Iran executed Mr. Ruhollah Rowhani, a 
Baha'i man, after having charged him with apostasy--specifically, 
converting a Muslim to the Baha'i faith. Mr. Rowhani, who had been held 
incommunicado for ten months, was evidently not accorded basic legal 
protections such as access to an attorney. His family learned of his 
execution only after it had taken place and they were notified they had 
one hour to prepare for his burial.
  Since 1979, over 200 Baha'is--mostly elected community leaders--have 
been executed in Iran, solely on account of their religion. For the 
past six years, however, none had been executed and the number of 
Baha'is in custody had been rapidly declining. This apparent lessening 
of overt persecution, coupled with the new leadership in Iran, had 
raised hopes that a change in attitude towards the Baha'i and other 
minority religions might be forthcoming. The execution of Mr. Rowhani 
dashed those hopes. Currently, 15 Baha'is are being held by the Iranian 
authorities--four of whom are on death row.
  In the days since the killing, the international community has joined 
forces to condemn this shameful execution and petition for the humane 
treatment of those Baha'is facing possible death at the hands of the 
Iranian government. President Clinton and State Department Spokesperson 
James Rubin have issued strong statements condemning the killing. The 
German, Australian and Canadian foreign ministries have issued strong 
denunciations and Representatives of the European Union have made their 
disapproval and concern known to the Iranian government in very clear 
terms. The Office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights has urgently 
appealed to the Iranian government on behalf of the detained 
individuals.

  For its part, the Iranian judiciary--which is controlled by Khomenni 
and the hardliners--responded by initially denying the charges were 
ever filed, denying the execution ever took place, and, incredibly, 
denying that a man named Ruhollah Rowhani ever existed. The Foreign 
Ministry later acknowledged that the execution had taken place.
  Mr. Speaker, it is tremendously disappointing that the hardline 
elements of the Iranian government have resumed their assault on the 
Baha'i community. The hardline leadership continues to deviate far from 
the norms of civilized behavior by executing a man for nothing more 
than his faith. I believe that the execution of this innocent man marks 
a new phase in the ongoing power struggle in Iran between the 
hardliners and the more moderate elements. Given the fact that the 
hardliners control the judiciary, it is not insignificant that this 
execution happened close in time to the conviction of the mayor of 
Tehran, an ally of President Khatami, and a long-scheduled visit by the 
European Union troika to discuss normalization of relations. I believe 
that the Baha'is and others who are at odds with the hardliners will 
continue to be used as pawns to weaken President Khatami's hand in this 
power struggle. I urge the hardline elements of Iranian government in 
the strongest possible terms not to compound this grievous situation by 
harming the other Baha'is in custody. I also call on President Khatami 
to give substance to his statements about religious freedom and the 
rule of law by taking a strong stand against the reactionary clerics 
who want to keep Iran isolated from the international community and the 
modern world.

                          ____________________