[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




ANNIVERSARY OF THE IMPRISONMENT OF THE SEVEN-MEMBER NATIONAL COMMITTEE 
                         OF THE IRANIAN BAHA'IS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 9, 2009

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, May 14 marked the one-year anniversary of 
the imprisonment of the seven-member national committee of the Iranian 
Baha'is. They have been unjustly held for over a year without formal 
charges or access to their attorneys.
  According to The New York Times, the seven Baha'is are scheduled to 
face trial this Saturday, July 11.
  They will reportedly be charged with ``espionage for Israel,'' a 
crime which is punishable by death.
  The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 
recently released their 2009 report which recommends that the State 
Department designate Iran a country of particular concern due to its 
gross violations of religious freedom.
  Such violations include the execution of over 200 Baha'i leaders 
since 1979, the desecration of Baha'i cemeteries and places of worship 
and the violent arrest and harassment of members of the Baha'i faith.
  As the administration seeks diplomatic engagement with Iran, I urge 
them to make human rights and religious freedom, including the 
persecuted Baha'is, an integral part of the dialogue.
  Human dignity and freedom must not be relegated to the sidelines.

                          ____________________