[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 209 (Thursday, December 10, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SUPPORTING H. RES. 823--CONDEMNING OF IRAN'S STATE-SPONSORED 
                   PERSECUTION OF ITS BAHA'I MINORITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2020

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I'm elated to announce that earlier 
this week my colleagues and I were able to unanimously pass H. Res. 
823, which condemns Iran's state-sponsored religious persecution of its 
Baha'i minority. Iran has gone too long depriving its citizens the most 
fundamental of human rights, and I'm proud that we were able to call 
out Iran and hold them accountable for their atrocities against their 
own people.
  I firmly believe that it is our duty in Congress to stand up to this 
tyrannical regime, and I have been committed to that cause since I 
first came to the House of Representatives. One of my first ever bills 
in Congress, the Iran Human Rights Act of 2007, focused on improving 
the respect for fundamental human rights of the people of Iran. It 
specifically recognized the plight and suffering of the Baha'i minority 
and that they face significant discrimination, including imprisonment, 
harassment, and intimidation.
  The Iranian state's treatment of the Baha'i people is deplorable, and 
the fact it is motivated simply because of their faith is wholly 
unacceptable. Religious freedom is an issue that personally touches me, 
as I have had family and friends who have been victims of religious 
persecution. This makes me especially conscious of the incredible 
importance of ensuring that religious freedom is respected around the 
globe. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right outlined in the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and all people deserve a 
government that will respect their rights.
  Our darkest moments as a human race have come during times when those 
who knew better stood silently, making excuses for passivity and 
allowing injustice and persecution to reign. While I celebrate the 
passage of H. Res. 823, I recognize there is more we can do. As Co-
Chair of the International Religious Freedom Caucus and member of the 
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Executive Committee, I stand with 
the Baha'i people against the injustices wrought against them by the 
Iranian government, and I call upon the United States and the 
international community to continue pressuring Iran to cease the 
persecution of its religious minorities and its violations of basic 
human rights. The Baha'i people deserve no less.