[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 119 (Thursday, September 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     EXECUTION OF BAHA'I BELIEVER VIOLATES RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 10, 1998

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, human rights are universal by definition. 
Simply by being a member of the human race, every person has certain 
inviolable rights--those outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights, which was created by the members of the United Nations fifty 
years ago.
  Unfortunately, however, not every government in the world recognizes 
these rights. The Government of Iran recently gave the world a glaring 
example of the type of officially sanctioned depravity that can occur 
when rights of the individual are not protected--and in fact are 
actively violated by his or her own government.
  On July 21st the Iranian government executed Ruhollah Rowhani in the 
town of Mashad. Mr. Rowhani, a married father of four, was not a 
criminal. He was a member of the Baha'i faith, and there is very 
credible reasons to believe that his death is a direct result of his 
faith. He was not accused of any crime that would be recognizable to us 
here in the United States or in most other places of the world. He was 
held incommunicado for nearly a year prior to his execution. He was not 
given access to lawyers. He was simply abducted by the government, 
held, subjected to a sham trial, judgment was passed, and then he was 
murdered.
  The approximately 300,000 Baha'is who live in Iran are in an 
extremely precarious position that is highlighted by this extreme 
treatment of Mr. Rowhani. Although Baha'is are the largest religious 
minority in Iran, their faith is not recognized as a legitimate 
religion by the government. In fact, the theocracy in Teheran consider 
the Baha'i faith to be heresy and an anti-Muslim conspiracy.
  Baha'is in Iran are labeled ``unprotected infidels'' and have no 
legal rights. Baha'is are prohibited from electing leaders, organizing 
schools or conducting other religious activities. All cemeteries, holy 
sites and Baha'i community property were seized after the Iranian 
Revolution in 1979. Baha'is are denied government jobs and pensions, 
and more than 10,000 have been dismissed from government and university 
posts since 1979. Baha'is of school age are also barred from both 4 
year high schools and universities, severely limiting economic 
opportunities. Baha'i marriages are not recognized and the right of 
inheritance is not recognized for Baha'is. In short, the Baha'i 
community in Iran is slowly being strangled through a regime of 
official persecution.
  It is important to note also, that the Baha'is in Iran have never 
engaged in any illegal or anti-government activity that would in any 
way justify this type of treatment. In fact, it is my understanding 
that obedience to the civil law of the land in which they live is a 
principal tenet of Baha'i teachings. The repression of the Baha'is in 
Iran is purely based on religion and intolerance.
  The overall situation facing Baha'is in Iran and the recent execution 
of Mr. Rowhani raise grave concerns for the fifteen other Baha'is being 
held by Iranian authorities on religious charges. In particular, seven 
men have been sentenced to death and may be facing imminent execution.
  I urge the Government of Iran to ensure the immediate safety of three 
Baha'is most imminently in danger of execution--Ata'ullah Hamid 
Nasirizdih, Sirus Dhabih-Musqaddam, and Hidayat-Kashifi--and to ensure 
that these men are afforded fair and public trials prior to any action 
being taken against them.
  I also urge on the White House and State Department Administration to 
work through appropriate channels, including the United Nations, and to 
work with our allies and friends to make clear to the Government of 
Iran that the lives of all Baha'i prisoners must be protected and that 
this behavior is unacceptable and must stop. The rights of the Baha'is 
of Iran, and of all humans, are unambiguous. It is the responsibility 
of the Government of Iran to ensure these right for all their citizens.

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