[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 80 (Thursday, June 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6711-S6712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WOMEN IN IRAN

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, a big event is taking place in another 
country tomorrow. The Iranian elections are going to take place for the 
presidency and leadership in Iran. This is a bogus election. The people 
of Iran are not having a fair choice. A number of people are calling 
for a boycott of elections in Iran, which is unusual for us but not for 
them, because the whole slate of those who have been nominated has been 
selected by the ruling council of Iran.
  If you were even going to be on the ballot, you had to have been 
selected by the ruling council. So there may be eight people running 
for president; some have dropped out, others added in. They all had to 
be appointed, actually, to be candidates.
  I wanted to draw this point to the body that there is not just a 
nuclear crisis going on in Iran; there is a human crisis that is taking 
place in that country. These elections that will be reported on are not 
elections. They are appointments that are taking place. It is in many 
respects a fairly porous society, and yet there are severe restrictions 
placed on freedom of speech, on press, assembly, association, and 
religion.
  The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has concluded 
that ``the government of Iran engages in or tolerates systematic, 
ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, including 
prolonged detention and executions based primarily or entirely upon 
religion of the accused.'' I just met with members of the Ba'hai faith 
who talked about the severe persecution of the Ba'hai in Iran.
  But the specific item I wanted to point out even prior to this 
election is the gender apartheid that takes place in Iran. I received 
this recently from the Alliance for Iranian Women.
  The State Department has reported that the testimony of a woman in 
Iran is worth half that of a man in court. The blood money paid to the 
family of a female crime victim is half the sum paid for a man. A 
married woman must obtain the written consent of her husband before 
traveling outside the country.
  In his book, Ayatollah Khomeini requires that young girls should be 
married before they reach the age of puberty. A woman does not have the 
right to divorce her husband, but a man can divorce his wife anytime he 
wishes and without her knowledge. A man is allowed to marry four wives 
and have as many temporary wives as he wants and may end the contract 
at any time with a temporary wife on a temporary marriage. Temporary 
marriage is often viewed as the Islamic Republic's way of sanctioning 
male promiscuity outside of marriage. Mothers do not get custody of 
their children when husbands divorce them. A widow does not get the 
custody of her children after the death of her husband. The children 
will be given to the parental grandparents, and the mother has no right 
to visitation. If the husband has no family, the mullah of the 
community takes custody of the child. Daughters get half the 
inheritance than that of their sons.
  I point this gender apartheid out because when I heard about it, I 
was stunned. I wanted other Members of the body to realize this is 
taking place.
  The greater focus of what is taking place in Iran has been primarily 
on nuclear weapons development. But there is a humanitarian and a human 
crisis and certainly a human rights crisis in that country.
  I have come here shortly before the Iranian presidential elections. 
These elections hold no hope of change for the people of Iran. They are 
elections that will be boycotted and protested, and they are elections 
that have been manipulated by the supreme leader and the council of 
guardians. Just last week women in Iran staged a sit-in to protest the 
disqualification of women from running in the elections.
  The people of Iran want change. That change will not come through 
these elections. But it will come through internal, strong 
demonstrations, and it will come through strong international support 
for the very people who protest and boycott these elections.
  Iran has a young and vibrant base that, with the support of the 
international community, could promote major change in Iran and the 
region. I encourage the Iranian-American community to unite, build 
strong coalitions to further promote democracy and fundamental respect 
for human rights in Iran. I encourage this body to support democracy 
building, civil society building in and for Iran.
  I encourage other Members to continue to speak up on behalf of the 
oppressed in Iran and voice strong support for the people who so 
desperately want to see democracy flourish.
  This is a key issue and a timely one. These elections are taking 
place soon. People need to know this is a bogus set of elections.

[[Page S6712]]

  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia is recognized.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, may I inquire of the Presiding Officer of 
the order to speak as in morning business for about 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is informed that we are in morning 
business. The Senator is recognized for up to 10 minutes.

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