[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 196 (Wednesday, December 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10138-H10140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING IRAN'S STATE-SPONSORED PERSECUTION OF ITS BAHA'I MINORITY
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the
Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration
of the resolution (H. Res. 274) condemning the Government of Iran's
state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued
violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, and ask for
its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 274
Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996,
2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016,
Congress declared that it deplored the religious persecution
by the Government of Iran of the Baha'i community and would
hold the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the
rights of all Iranian nationals, including members of the
Baha'i Faith;
Whereas the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom 2016 Annual Report states--
(1) ``The Baha'i community, the largest non-Muslim
religious minority in Iran, long has been subject to
particularly severe religious freedom violations. The
government views Baha'is, who number at least 300,000, as
`heretics' and consequently they face repression on the
grounds of apostasy.'';
(2) ``Since 1979, authorities have killed or executed more
than 200 Baha'i leaders, and more than 10,000 have been
dismissed from government and university jobs.''; and
(3) ``Over the past 10 years, approximately 850 Baha'is
have been arbitrarily arrested.'';
Whereas the Department of State 2015 International
Religious Freedom Report states--
(1) religious minorities in Iran ``continued to face
societal discrimination, especially the Bahai community,
which reported continuing problems at different levels of
society, including personal harassment.'';
(2) the Government of Iran ``continued to prohibit Bahais
from officially assembling or maintaining administrative
institutions, actively closed such institutions, harassed
Bahais, and disregarded their property rights.'';
(3) in Iran, ``Bahai blood may be spilled with impunity,
and Bahai families are not entitled to restitution'' and
``Bahais cannot receive compensation for injury or crimes
committed against them and cannot inherit property.'';
(4) the Government of Iran ``requires universities to
exclude Bahais from access to higher education or expel them
if their religious affiliation becomes known.''; and
(5) in Iran, ``Bahais are banned from government
employment'' and ``[t]here were reports of non-Bahais being
pressured to refuse employment to Bahais or dismissing Bahais
from their private sector jobs.'';
Whereas, on June 8, 2016, the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic
Republic of Iran and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on
freedom of religion or belief issued a joint statement
condemning the ``wave of incitement of hatred of the Baha'i
community reflected in speeches made by religious, judiciary
and political officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran'';
Whereas, on September 6, 2016, the United Nations
Secretary-General issued a report on the situation of human
rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran (A/71/374), which
stated that ``human rights violations have continued at an
alarming rate'';
Whereas, on December 17, 2016, the United Nations General
Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/70/179), which
``[e]xpresse[d] serious concern about ongoing severe
limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of
thought, conscience, religion or belief and restrictions on
the establishment of places of worship, as well as attacks
against places of worship and burial, as well as other human
rights violations, including but not limited to harassment,
persecution and incitement to hatred that lead to violence
against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized
religious minorities, including Christians, Jews, Sufi
Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Zoroastrians and members of the
Baha'i Faith and their defenders'';
Whereas since May 2008, the Government of Iran has
imprisoned the 7 members of the former ad hoc leadership
group of the Baha'i community in Iran, known as the Yaran-i-
[[Page H10139]]
Iran, or ``friends of Iran''--Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr.
Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr.
Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, and Mr. Vahid
Tizfahm--and these individuals were convicted of charges
including ``spying for Israel, insulting religious
sanctities, propaganda against the regime and spreading
corruption on earth'' and sentenced to 20-year prison terms,
the longest sentences given to any prisoner of conscience in
Iran at that time, now reportedly reduced to 10 years;
Whereas beginning in May 2011, officials of the Government
of Iran in 4 cities conducted sweeping raids on the homes of
dozens of individuals associated with the Baha'i Institute
for Higher Education (referred to in this Resolution as
``BIHE'') and arrested and detained several educators
associated with BIHE, with 16 BIHE educators ultimately
sentenced to 4- or 5-year prison terms, 7 of whom remain in
prison;
Whereas scores of Baha'i cemeteries have been attacked, and
in 2014, Revolutionary Guards began excavating a Baha'i
cemetery in Shiraz, which is the site of 950 graves, and
built a cultural and sport center on the cemetery site;
Whereas the Baha'i International Community reported that
there has been a recent surge in anti-Baha'i hate propaganda
in Iranian state-sponsored media outlets, noting that--
(1) in 2010 and 2011, approximately 22 anti-Baha'i articles
were appearing every month;
(2) in 2014, the number of anti-Baha'i articles rose to
approximately 400 per month; and
(3) by 2016, the number of anti-Baha'i articles rose to
approximately 1,500 per month;
Whereas there are currently 90 Baha'is in prison in Iran;
Whereas the Government of Iran is party to the
International Covenants on Human Rights and is in violation
of its obligations under such Covenants;
Whereas section 105 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions,
Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8514)
authorizes the President to impose sanctions on individuals
``responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for
ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission
of serious human rights abuses against citizens of Iran or
their family members on or after June 12, 2009''; and
Whereas the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights
Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-158) amends and expands the
authorities established under the Comprehensive Iran
Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (Public
Law 111-195) to sanction Iranian human rights abusers: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the Government of Iran's state-sponsored
persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued
violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights;
(2) calls on the Government of Iran to immediately release
the 7 imprisoned Baha'i leaders, the 7 imprisoned Baha'i
educators, and all other prisoners held solely on account of
their religion;
(3) calls on the President and the Secretary of State, in
cooperation with responsible nations, to immediately condemn
the Government of Iran's continued violation of human rights
and demand the immediate release of prisoners held solely on
account of their religion; and
(4) urges the President and the Secretary of State to
utilize available authorities to impose sanctions on
officials of the Government of Iran and other individuals
directly responsible for serious human rights abuses,
including abuses against the Baha'i community of Iran.
Amendment Offered by Ms. Ros-Lehtinen of Florida
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the text at the
desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the
following:
That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the Government of Iran's state-sponsored
persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued
violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights;
(2) calls on the Government of Iran to immediately release
the imprisoned Baha'i leader, the 4 imprisoned Baha'i
educators, and all other prisoners held solely on account of
their religion;
(3) calls on the President and the Secretary of State, in
cooperation with responsible nations, to immediately condemn
the Government of Iran's continued violation of human rights
and demand the immediate release of prisoners held solely on
account of their religion; and
(4) urges the President and the Secretary of State to
utilize available authorities to impose sanctions on
officials of the Government of Iran and other individuals
directly responsible for serious human rights abuses,
including abuses against the Baha'i community of Iran.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent to dispense with the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
The amendment was agreed to.
The resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Ms. Ros-Lehtinen of Florida
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the preamble at
the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike the preamble and insert the following:
Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996,
2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016,
Congress declared that it deplored the religious persecution
by the Government of Iran of the Baha'i community and would
hold the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the
rights of all Iranian nationals, including members of the
Baha'i Faith;
Whereas the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom 2016 Annual Report states--
(1) ``The Baha'i community, the largest non-Muslim
religious minority in Iran, long has been subject to
particularly severe religious freedom violations. The
government views Baha'is, who number at least 300,000, as
`heretics' and consequently they face repression on the
grounds of apostasy.'';
(2) ``Since 1979, authorities have killed or executed more
than 200 Baha'i leaders, and more than 10,000 have been
dismissed from government and university jobs.''; and
(3) ``Over the past 10 years, approximately 850 Baha'is
have been arbitrarily arrested.'';
Whereas the Department of State 2015 International
Religious Freedom Report states--
(1) religious minorities in Iran ``continued to face
societal discrimination, especially the Bahai community,
which reported continuing problems at different levels of
society, including personal harassment.'';
(2) the Government of Iran ``continued to prohibit Bahais
from officially assembling or maintaining administrative
institutions, actively closed such institutions, harassed
Bahais, and disregarded their property rights.'';
(3) in Iran, ``Bahai blood may be spilled with impunity,
and Bahai families are not entitled to restitution'' and
``Bahais cannot receive compensation for injury or crimes
committed against them and cannot inherit property.'';
(4) the Government of Iran ``requires universities to
exclude Bahais from access to higher education or expel them
if their religious affiliation becomes known.''; and
(5) in Iran, ``Bahais are banned from government
employment'' and ``[t]here were reports of non-Bahais being
pressured to refuse employment to Bahais or dismissing Bahais
from their private sector jobs.'';
Whereas, on June 8, 2016, the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic
Republic of Iran and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on
freedom of religion or belief issued a joint statement
condemning the ``wave of incitement of hatred of the Baha'i
community reflected in speeches made by religious, judiciary
and political officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran'';
Whereas, on September 6, 2016, the United Nations
Secretary-General issued a report on the situation of human
rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran (A/71/374), which
stated that ``human rights violations have continued at an
alarming rate'';
Whereas, on December 19, 2016, the United Nations General
Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/71/204), which
``[e]xpresse[d] serious concern about ongoing severe
limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of
thought, conscience, religion or belief and restrictions on
the establishment of places of worship, as well as attacks
against places of worship and burial, as well as other human
rights violations, including but not limited to harassment,
persecution and incitement to hatred that lead to violence
against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized
religious minorities, including Christians, Jews, Sufi
Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Zoroastrians and members of the
Baha'i Faith and their defenders'';
Whereas in May 2008, the Government of Iran imprisoned the
7 members of the former ad hoc leadership group of the Baha'i
community in Iran, known as the Yaran-i-Iran, or ``friends of
Iran''--Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr.
Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mrs.
Mahvash Sabet, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm--and these individuals
were convicted of charges including ``spying for Israel,
insulting religious sanctities, propaganda against the regime
and spreading corruption on earth'' and sentenced to 20-year
prison terms, the longest sentences given to any prisoner of
conscience in Iran at that time and one remains imprisoned;
Whereas beginning in May 2011, officials of the Government
of Iran in 4 cities conducted sweeping raids on the homes of
dozens of individuals associated with the Baha'i Institute
for Higher Education (referred to in this Resolution as
``BIHE'') and arrested and detained several educators
associated with BIHE, with 16 BIHE educators ultimately
sentenced to 4- or 5-year prison terms, 4 of whom remain in
prison;
Whereas scores of Baha'i cemeteries have been attacked, and
in 2014, Revolutionary Guards began excavating a Baha'i
cemetery in Shiraz, which is the site of 950 graves, and
[[Page H10140]]
built a cultural and sport center on the cemetery site;
Whereas the Baha'i International Community reported that
there has been a recent surge in anti-Baha'i hate propaganda
in Iranian state-sponsored media outlets, noting that--
(1) in 2010 and 2011, approximately 22 anti-Baha'i articles
were appearing every month;
(2) in 2014, the number of anti-Baha'i articles rose to
approximately 400 per month; and
(3) by 2016, the number of anti-Baha'i articles rose to
approximately 1,500 per month;
Whereas there are currently 82 Baha'is in prison in Iran;
Whereas the Government of Iran is party to the
International Covenants on Human Rights and is in violation
of its obligations under such Covenants;
Whereas section 105 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions,
Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8514)
authorizes the President to impose sanctions on individuals
``responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for
ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission
of serious human rights abuses against citizens of Iran or
their family members on or after June 12, 2009''; and
Whereas the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights
Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-158) amends and expands the
authorities established under the Comprehensive Iran
Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (Public
Law 111-195) to sanction Iranian human rights abusers: Now,
therefore, be it
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent to dispense with the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________