[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 113 (Wednesday, August 4, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10242-S10243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 50--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS 
   CONCERNING THE CONTINUOUS REPRESSION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND 
 ASSEMBLY, AND OF INDIVIDUAL HUMAN RIGHTS, IN IRAN, AS EXEMPLIFIED BY 
        THE RECENT REPRESSION OF THE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT OF IRAN

  Mr. BROWNBACK (for Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lott, Mr. Helms, Mr. Graham, 
Mr. Mack, Mr. Wellstone, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 50

       Whereas freedom of expression and assembly, individual 
     human rights, and pursuit of democratic ideals have been 
     systematically repressed by the government of Iran;
       Whereas in recent months several members of the press and 
     other individuals who peacefully criticized the policies of 
     the Islamic Republic of Iran were assassinated by elements 
     that are now known to have belonged to the Iranian 
     government's security forces;
       Whereas this continuous repression of freedom has been once 
     more exemplified by the vicious and unjustifiable assault by 
     the government of Iran and its vigilantes on students who 
     marched peacefully and within the law on July 8, 1999, to 
     protest, on the grounds of democracy, freedom of the press, 
     and individual and civil rights, the closure of a reformist 
     newspaper, Salaam;
       Whereas the Iranian government forces and vigilantes 
     killed, wounded, and incarcerated students and destroyed 
     their dormitories, rooms, and belongings;
       Whereas the Iranian government now has accused falsely and 
     unjustifiably a number of students and other seekers of 
     democracy and human rights of high crimes, theoretically 
     punishable by death under Iranian law; and
       Whereas freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental 
     human rights which are recognized as such under the United 
     Nations Declaration of Human Rights: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE REPRESSION OF THE 
                   DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT OF IRAN.

       (a) Condemnation.--Congress hereby condemns the repressive 
     actions taken by the Iranian government against the 
     democratic movement of Iran.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Iranian government should respect the fundamental 
     principles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human 
     Rights and, thereby, to cease its repression of peaceful 
     dissent and to release unharmed the student leaders and the 
     other pro democracy activists the government continues to 
     detain;
       (2) the President of the United States should give clear 
     voice to--
       (A) the abhorrence of the American people for the violence 
     used against the Iranian students and pro-democracy 
     activists; and

[[Page S10243]]

       (B) the solidarity of the United States with the values and 
     objectives that the students and activists have espoused;
       (3) the European allies of the United States, who maintain 
     political and economic relations with Iran, should convey 
     their own concerns and objections to the Iranian authorities;
       (4) the Secretary of State should urge the Secretary 
     General of the United Nations to exercise his influence with 
     the Iranian government to secure the release of the student 
     leaders and other pro-democracy activists who are now being 
     detained and whose lives are threatened;
       (5) the Secretary of State should urge the United Nations 
     High Commissioner for Human Rights to convey her concern for 
     the safety of the Iranian student leaders and other pro-
     democracy activists to the Iranian government and should 
     assist in securing their prompt release; and
       (6) the United States delegate to the United Nations Sub-
     Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of 
     Minorities, at its upcoming meeting, should introduce a 
     resolution calling for the release of the Iranian student 
     leaders and other pro-democracy activists and the termination 
     of repressive actions against the nonviolent and democratic 
     student movement of Iran.

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