[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 66 (Thursday, April 20, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION ``CONDEMNING THE INACTION BY THE ISLAMIC 
 REPUBLIC OF IRAN IN ADDRESSING THE POISONING OF IRANIAN SCHOOL GIRLS, 
  THE DAUGHTERS OF THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION'' AND THE FORMATION OF THE 
                   IRANIAN WOMEN CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 20, 2023

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the 
introduction of a resolution Condemning the Inaction by the Islamic 
Republic of Iran in Addressing the Poisoning of Iranian School Girls, 
the daughters of the Iranian Revolution, and to announce the creation 
of the Iranian Women Congressional Caucus.
  This resolution recognizes the bravery and resilience of women who 
have faced tremendous challenges in their fight for equality and human 
rights.
  We have all witnessed the courage of women and youth leading the 2022 
protests in Iran, calling for social freedom and political change.
  As stated in the resolution, these protests stem from more than four 
decades of organized resistance against the Iranian dictatorship, led 
by women who have endured torture, sexual and gender-based violence, 
and death.
  The uprising last year in Iran started with the murder of Mahsa 
Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested by morality police in Tehran on 
September 13, 2022, for allegedly violating Iran's strict rules 
requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab, or headscarf.
  Since the protests started in September, after the murder of Mahsa 
Amini's, women and men have taken to the streets, risking their lives 
for a free and democratic Iran.
  Over 500 people have been killed, over 15,000 arrested.
  Iranian courts have issued numerous death sentences linked to the 
protests, convicting people of being ``enemies against God'' and 
``spreading corruption on Earth.''
  As a long-time advocate and fighter for justice and equality, I am 
inspired by the ongoing revolution led by Iranian women, despite the 
tortures their people face daily imposed their government.
  Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of 
Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has been, for decades, the leading voice 
against the regime's abuses.
  Her Ten-Point Plan for the future of Iran, which she presented to the 
European Parliament in 2006, provides a roadmap for a secular, 
democratic, non-nuclear republic where the rule of law is upheld.
  Mrs. Rajavi's Ten-Point Plan stresses ``Complete gender equality in 
the realms of political, social, cultural, and economic rights, and 
equal participation of women in political leadership. Abolishment of 
any form of discrimination; the right to choose one's own clothing 
freely; the right to freely marry and divorce; and to obtain education 
and employment. Prohibition of all forms of exploitation against women 
under any pretext.''
  As co-chair of the Iranian Women Caucus, and on behalf of all its 
members, I support Mrs. Rajavi's vision of a society where both men and 
women reject compulsory religion, compulsory hijab, and compulsory 
government.
  The current regime's human rights abuses have their roots in past 
dictatorships, characterized by widespread human rights violations, 
including torture, extrajudicial killings, and political suppression by 
SAVAK, the notorious secret police.
  It is essential that we acknowledge this history and address the root 
causes of the current human rights crisis in Iran.
  I strongly condemn the deliberate gas attacks on schoolgirls in Iran 
and the violent suppression of students, men, and women participating 
in demonstrations. I call for transparent accountability for all 
killings of protesters by Iranian security forces.
  I strongly encourage my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to 
support the Iranian Women Caucus and this resolution.

                          ____________________