This resolution condemns Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the international covenants on human rights. Further, it calls on Iran to immediately release all imprisoned or detained Baha'is, and it urges the President and the Department of State to impose sanctions on Iranian officials and others who are responsible for serious human rights abuses, including abuses against Iran's Baha'i community.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 744 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 744
Condemning the Government of Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its
Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 25, 2021
Mr. Deutch (for himself, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Wilson of South
Carolina, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Schneider, Mrs. Wagner, Mr.
Connolly, and Mr. Smith of New Jersey) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning the Government of Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its
Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.
Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2006,
2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020, 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 since 1979, Iranian authorities have killed or executed more than 200
Baha'i leaders, and more than 10,000 have been dismissed from government
and university jobs;
Whereas the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the situation of human
rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran (A/RES/75/191), dated December
16, 2020, expresses serious concerns about--
(1) ``ongoing severe limitations and increasing restrictions on the
right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief'';
(2) ``restrictions on the establishment of places of worship'';
(3) ``undue restrictions on burials carried out in accordance with
religious tenets'';
(4) ``attacks against places of worship and burial''; and
(5) ``other human rights violations, including but not limited to
harassment, intimidation, persecution, arbitrary arrests and detention, and
incitement to hatred that leads to violence against persons belonging to
recognized and unrecognized religious minorities'';
Whereas, on January 29, 2020, the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom ``condemned an Iranian court order allowing
authorities to confiscate properties owned by Baha'is in the village of
Ivel in Mazandaran Province'';
Whereas in the 2020 Annual Report of the United States Commission on
International Religious Freedom issued in April 2021, it is reported
that the Government of Iran--
(1) ``continued to arrest Baha'is and impose lengthy prison sentences
on them. Between 50 and 100 Baha'is were reported to be in prisons in Iran
during 2020, despite the widespread prevalence of COVID-19''; and
(2) ``continued its systematic repression of Baha'is, including a mass
raid on about 50 Baha'i houses in late November. A court official in Shiraz
threatened to `uproot' Baha'is in the city in late spring'';
Whereas the Iran section of the Department of State's 2020 Report on
International Religious Freedom issued in May 2021 provides, in part--
(1) ``NGOs reported that as of October 27 [2020], there were 38 Baha'is
- 16 men and 22 women - in prison.'';
(2) ``The law bars Baha'is from founding or operating their own
educational institutions. A Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology
order requires universities to exclude Baha'is from access to higher
education, or to expel them if their religious affiliation becomes
known.'';
(3) ``On November 1 [2020], Iran International and the international
human rights news agency HRANA reported that authorities barred from higher
education at least 17 Baha'is who participated in the year's nationwide
university entrance examinations, despite their being academically
qualified.'';
(4) ``In May [2020], parliament passed the legislation on `misguided
sects' in the form of amendments to articles 499 and 500 of the Islamic
Penal Code. The legislation stated that those found guilty of `deviant
psychological manipulation' or `propaganda contrary to Islam' could be
labeled as members of a `sect' and punished with imprisonment, flogging,
fines, or the death penalty. A human rights lawyer living in Europe stated,
`The law should protect citizens, including Christian converts and Baha'is,
against the government, but in Iran the law has become a tool to justify
the government's violent treatment of converts and other unrecognized
minorities.'''; and
(5) ``The government bars Baha'is from all government employment and
forbids Baha'i participation in the governmental social pension system.
Baha'is may not receive compensation for injury or crimes committed against
them and may not inherit property. A religious fatwa from the Supreme
Leader encourages citizens to avoid all dealings with Baha'is.'';
Whereas, on April 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of State Office of Religious
Freedom tweeted, ``We are concerned by amendments to Articles 499 & 500
of Iran's penal code, which may lead to more prosecutions of individuals
for exercising their freedoms of religion, belief & expression. We call
on Iran to uphold these human rights for all, including religious
minorities.'';
Whereas the Baha'i International Community documented a more than 50 percent
increase in hate propaganda directed against the Baha'is in the 12-month
period ending in August 2020 compared to prior years, with more than
9,500 such articles, videos, or web pages appearing in Iranian
government-controlled or government-sponsored media;
Whereas, on March 10, 2021, the Baha'i International Community condemned ``an
official Iranian directive which instructs local authorities in the city
of Sari, in the northern province of Mazandaran, to `conduct strict
controls' on the Baha'is in the city by `monitoring their operations',
and introduce measures to`identify Baha'i students' in order to `bring
them into Islam''';
Whereas Iran is a member of the United Nations and a signatory to both the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, among other international human rights
treaties, without reservation;
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 who are ``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 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
(2) calls on the Government of Iran--
(A) to immediately release the imprisoned or
detained Baha'is and all other prisoners held solely on
account of their religion;
(B) to end its state-sponsored campaign of hate
propaganda against the Baha'is; and
(C) to reverse state-imposed policies denying
Baha'is and members of other religious minorities equal
opportunities to higher education, earning a
livelihood, due process under the law, and the free
exercise of religious practices;
(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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa and Global Counterterrorism.
Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa and Global Counterterrorism Discharged.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ms. Jacobs (CA) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8631-8633; text: CR H8631-8632)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 744.
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
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ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Schakowsky asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H. Res. 744, a bill originally introduced by Representative Deutch, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1499, proceedings on H. Res. 744 are considered vacated.
Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 1499, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 4601, as amended; H.R. 4772, as amended; H.R. 4899; H.R. 5943, as amended; H.R. 7158, as amended; H.R. 8203; H.R. 9308; and S. 3825; and the following resolutions were agreed to under suspension of the rules: H. Res. 744, as amended; and H. Res. 922, as amended.
Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 1499, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 4601, as amended; H.R. 4772, as amended; H.R. 4899; H.R. 5943, as amended; H.R. 7158, as amended; H.R. 8203; H.R. 9308; and S. 3825; and the following resolutions were agreed to under suspension of the rules: H. Res. 744, as amended; and H. Res. 922, as amended. (consideration: CR H8696-8700; text: CR H8698-8699)