[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 172 (Wednesday, October 25, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATING 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF BAHA'U'LLAH

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                        HON. THEODORE E. DEUTCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 25, 2017

  Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, October 22nd marked the 200th anniversary of 
the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. There are 
more than five million Baha'is around the world, including in my 
district in South Florida. Over the weekend, they came together to 
celebrate the bicentenary of Baha'u'llah's birth by honoring his life 
and his teachings.
  Like many religious leaders, Baha'u'llah taught of the unity of 
mankind and the need for us to work to build better communities and a 
better world. Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah was God's most recent 
messenger and that all religions should live in harmony. This religious 
tolerance is an important message in a world where we too often see 
religious oppression.
  In fact, Baha'u'llah was born in Tehran but was imprisoned and exiled 
for his teachings. Today, Baha'is in Iran are still openly persecuted 
for their faith. Baha'i youth are often deprived of access to higher 
education and public jobs, Baha'i-owned business are frequently 
attacked, and Baha'i cemeteries are desecrated and disrespected. 
Baha'is are vilified in state sponsored media and their leaders are 
arbitrarily arrested and cruelly held in Iran's notorious prisons.
  That is why I was proud to introduce H. Res. 274 with a bipartisan 
group of colleagues to condemn Iran's human rights violations, 
particularly its persecution of its Baha'i minority, and urge sanctions 
against officials who have carried out these abuses. This resolution 
passed unanimously through the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on 
the Middle East and North Africa, of which I am Ranking Member, and I 
look forward to moving it through the full Committee and to the House 
Floor.
  The bicentenary, though, is about celebration and shared optimism for 
the future. I'm pleased to join with my colleagues in congratulating 
Baha'is around the world, and in Florida in particular, as they 
celebrate this festive and momentous occasion.

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