[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM REED

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2011

  Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the 
atrocious record of human rights in Iran. Across the Middle East, we 
have seen a growing pressure for change, with individuals standing up 
for their right to live free. Yet, Iran remains a theocratic and 
violently repressive dictatorship.
  Iran's opposition Green Movement--reinvigorated by recent protests in 
the Middle East--has faced brutal suppression, including beatings and 
arrests. A recent response by the Iranian leadership to a weekly 
Tuesday protest calling for reforms included a brutal assault on 
demonstrators. More disturbing, there has been a spike in executions--
with the International Campaign for Human Rights estimating more than 
90 individuals including political prisoners have been executed over 
the past two months.
  Clearly, any facade of Presidential and Parliamentary elections is 
exposed through this record of appalling religious and military control 
and abuse of the Iranian people.
  In Iran, there is no freedom of speech, no freedom of the press, no 
freedom of religion--with life imprisonment or death meted out as 
punishments for these ``crimes.''
  As Americans, we--along with our international allies--must speak out 
against these abuses. The United Nations Human Rights Council should 
appoint a special expert to monitor and document the deterioration of 
human rights in Iran and I urge this Congress and our Administration to 
continue to impose and broaden strict U.S. sanctions, including on the 
companies that provide the technology that enables government 
monitoring and suppression of dissent.
  As a nation, we must support the desire of any people to live free 
and stand strong against abusive regimes.

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