[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 18 (Thursday, February 24, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S832-S833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMMENDING THE PEOPLE OF IRAN

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 83 submitted by 
myself and Senator Wellstone.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 83) commending the 
     people of Iran for their commitment to the democratic process 
     and positive political reform on the occasion of Iran's 
     parliamentary elections.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, earlier today the Senate voted on H.R. 
1883, the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000. That bill will shortly be 
voted on by the House and sent to the President. I hope he will sign it 
because it is an important signal that the United States will not 
tolerate the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means 
of delivering them. We will not tolerate trafficking in missiles and 
the technology with which to build them. I believe that is an important 
signal for us to send.
  I also think it is important we recognize what took place this week 
in Iran. This threat occurred, but in the midst of this, 80 percent of 
the people in Iran turned out to vote. They are not interested in the 
entrenched policies of Ayatollah Khomeini and his harsh legacy. 
Reformers dominated in the polls. Despite the best efforts of the 
hardline clerical institutions to disqualify and intimidate popular 
candidates, the Iranian people had the courage of their convictions. 
They want economic liberalization, they want freedom of the press, and 
they want personal liberty.
  We in the United States obviously share those convictions and are 
obviously heartened by what took place at the polls this week in Iran. 
It should be noted and applauded, and this resolution does just that.
  We say to the Iranian people: Congratulations. Thank you. This is a 
good step in moving forward. At the same time, we want to say we will 
not tolerate weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering 
these weapons. We want to send those clear signals.
  There is another thing which is going on in Iran. Earlier today, I 
had a press conference with several other people about three men--Sirus 
Zabihi-Moghaddam, Hedayat Kashefi-Najafabadi, and Manuchehr Khulusi--
three Baha'is who are on death row in prison facing imminent execution 
for the simple reason of practicing their faith. That is it. They are 
on death row facing imminent death for daring to practice their faith.
  This cannot be tolerated. There are nearly 300,000 Baha'is in Iran. 
It is the largest religious minority in the country. They have suffered 
continuous persecution for their peaceful beliefs. I remind the Iranian 
people who have voted for freedom this week that this is part of it. 
This is also something they have signed on to.
  Nearly 50 years ago, the General Assembly of the United Nations--of 
which Iran is a member--adopted the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights. Since that time, this Universal Declaration has become the 
bedrock document for human rights. However, the Iranian Government 
continues to be an egregious violator.
  I wish to read one portion of this document. Article 18 of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights 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.

  This hour, I call on the Government of Iran--from whom the people of 
Iran, by their clear vote this week, are seeking change--to ensure the 
safety of these three individuals.
  This hour, I call for the release of these individuals--Sirus Zabihi-
Moghaddam, Hedayat Kashefi-Najafabadi, and Manuchehr Khulusi--whose 
only crime was a sincere expression of their faith, which is a 
universal fundamental right.
  Most importantly, I call upon the Government of Iran to provide 
freedom of religion to its people--who are yearning for change, as 
witnessed by the vote this week--including their peaceful yet 
brutalized Baha'is community. I ask for their freedom to express their 
faith as they see fit.
  Our resolution is in addition to the bill that passed earlier today. 
It congratulates the Iranian people and says: Let's take other steps 
forward. No weapons of mass destruction. But, also, let's recognize 
religious freedom, as in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 
which the Iranian Government has signed on to.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution, S. Con. 
Res. 83, be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements related to 
the concurrent resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Con. Res. 83) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 83

       Whereas the Islamic Republic of Iran held parliamentary 
     elections on February 18, 2000;
       Whereas more than 75 percent of the approximately 
     39,000,000 eligible voters cast ballots in the elections;
       Whereas preliminary results indicate that reformers have 
     won a parliamentary majority, freeing Iran's parliament, the 
     Majlis, of hard-line domination for the first time since the 
     1979 Iranian revolution;
       Whereas reformers won elections despite concerted efforts 
     by hard-line Iranian clergy to ban reformist forces from the 
     ballot; and
       Whereas the elections show a clear preference by a majority 
     of Iranian voters for democracy, rule of law, and improved 
     relations with Western nations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) commends the people of Iran for their commitment to the 
     democratic process;
       (2) congratulates reformist parliamentarians on their 
     recent electoral victory;
       (3) reaffirms the desire of the United States to see free, 
     democratic political development, the restoration of the rule 
     of law, and full civil and political rights for all Iranians; 
     and
       (4) calls on the Government of Iran to rejoin the community 
     of nations and renounce terrorism, opposition to the Middle 
     East

[[Page S833]]

     peace process, and the development and acquisition of weapons 
     of mass destruction.

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