[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 803--CONDEMNING THE DETENTION AND DEATH OF MAHSA 
    AMINI AND CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN TO END ITS SYSTEMIC 
                          PERSECUTION OF WOMEN

  Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Risch, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. 
Booker, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mr. Peters, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Durbin, Ms. 
Rosen, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Brown, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. 
Gillibrand, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Moran, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. 
Fischer, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Daines, Mr. Braun, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Sullivan, 
Mr. Blunt, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Romney, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Cruz, 
Mr. Cornyn, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Markey) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 803

       Whereas Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, died in 
     the custody of the Morality Police of Iran after being 
     detained for purportedly wearing a hijab ``improperly'';
       Whereas the Morality Police of Iran, an element of the Law 
     Enforcement Forces of Iran, continually suppress Iranian 
     women's right to freedom of expression and opinion, including 
     restrictions on women's clothing such as compulsory wearing 
     of the hijab;
       Whereas the protests over the death of Ms. Amini are the 
     largest in Iran since 2019 and have spread throughout the 
     capital of Iran, all of the 31 provinces of Iran, and at 
     least 80 other cities and towns nationwide;
       Whereas the Government of Iran has instituted a violent 
     crackdown against peaceful protesters following the death of 
     Ms. Amini, resulting in the injury and detention of hundreds 
     of protesters and the deaths of at least 41 people as of 
     September 26, 2022;
       Whereas, to prevent protests from spreading, the biggest 
     telecommunications operator in Iran largely shut down mobile 
     internet access--the most severe internet restriction in the 
     country since 2019;
       Whereas the Government of Iran consistently engages in a 
     range of human rights abuses in addition to its systematic 
     persecution of women and peaceful protesters, including--
       (1) unlawful or arbitrary killings;
       (2) trials without due process;
       (3) forced disappearances;
       (4) torture;
       (5) arbitrary arrest and detention;
       (6) harsh and life-threatening prison conditions;
       (7) transnational attacks against dissidents;
       (8) severe restrictions on free expression and the media;
       (9) substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful 
     assembly and freedom of association;
       (10) severe restrictions on religious freedom; and
       (11) restrictions on the ability of citizens to change 
     their government peacefully through free and fair elections;
       Whereas the Government of Iran is ranked as one of the 
     worst human rights violators in the world, having received a 
     14 out of 100 ``Global Freedom Score'' and a 16 out of 100 
     ``Internet Freedom Score'' from Freedom House;
       Whereas Iran has been designated as a ``country of 
     particular concern'' by the Department of State for its 
     suppression of religious freedom every year since 1999; and
       Whereas improvements in the human rights of women, freedom 
     of expression, and other human rights are fundamental to 
     strengthening the accountability of the Government of Iran to 
     its citizens: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns the detention and death of Mahsa Amini;
       (2) recognizes the bravery and right of the Iranian people 
     protesting the death of Ms. Amini, including many Iranian 
     women;
       (3) calls on the Government of Iran to end its systemic 
     persecution of women;
       (4) calls on the Government of Iran to allow peaceful 
     protest and free elections;
       (5) supports human rights, including the human rights of 
     women in Iran; and
       (6) supports holding all human rights violators in Iran to 
     account.

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