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21–544PDF 2016

CONDEMNING THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN’S STATE-SPONSORED

PERSECUTION OF ITS BAHA’I MINORITY AND ITS CONTINUED

VIOLATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON HUMAN

RIGHTS

MARKUP

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON 

THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

H. Res. 220

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Serial No. 114–221

Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

(

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ or

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/

(II)

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman 

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey 

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida 

DANA ROHRABACHER, California 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

JOE WILSON, South Carolina 

MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas 

TED POE, Texas 

MATT SALMON, Arizona 

DARRELL E. ISSA, California 

TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania 

JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina 

MO BROOKS, Alabama 

PAUL COOK, California 

RANDY K. WEBER SR., Texas 

SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania 

RON DESANTIS, Florida 

MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina 

TED S. YOHO, Florida 

CURT CLAWSON, Florida 

SCOTT DESJARLAIS, Tennessee 

REID J. RIBBLE, Wisconsin 

DAVID A. TROTT, Michigan 

LEE M. ZELDIN, New York 

DANIEL DONOVAN, New York 

ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York 

ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey 

GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia 

THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida 

BRIAN HIGGINS, New York 

KAREN BASS, California 

WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts 

DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island 

ALAN GRAYSON, Florida 

AMI BERA, California 

ALAN S. LOWENTHAL, California 

GRACE MENG, New York 

LOIS FRANKEL, Florida 

TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii 

JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas 

ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois 

BRENDAN F. BOYLE, Pennsylvania

AMY PORTER, Chief of Staff THOMAS SHEEHY, Staff Director

JASON STEINBAUM, Democratic Staff Director 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida, Chairman 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

JOE WILSON, South Carolina 

DARRELL E. ISSA, California 

RANDY K. WEBER SR., Texas 

RON DESANTIS, Florida 

MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina 

TED S. YOHO, Florida 

CURT CLAWSON, Florida 

DAVID A. TROTT, Michigan 

LEE M. ZELDIN, New York 

THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida 

GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia 

BRIAN HIGGINS, New York 

DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island 

ALAN GRAYSON, Florida 

GRACE MENG, New York 

LOIS FRANKEL, Florida 

BRENDAN F. BOYLE, Pennsylvania 

(III)

C O N T E N T S 

Page

MARKUP ON 

H. Res. 220, Condemning the Government of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International 

Covenants on Human Rights .............................................................................. 2

Amendment to H. Res. 220 offered by the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 

a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida, and chairman, 

Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa .................................... 7

APPENDIX 

Markup notice .......................................................................................................... 14

Markup minutes ...................................................................................................... 15

Markup summary .................................................................................................... 16

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CONDEMNING THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN’S STATE-SPONSORED PERSECUTION OF ITS BAHA’I MINORITY AND ITS 

CONTINUED VIOLATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA,

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS,

Washington, DC. 

The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:35 a.m., in room 

2255, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen 

(chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you. The subcommittee will come to 

order. Pursuant to notice, we meet today to mark up House Resolution 220, Condemning the Government of Iran’s state-sponsored 

persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the 

International Covenants on Human Rights. As your offices were 

notified earlier this week, we are going to consider it en bloc with 

a minor amendment that we had circulated updating some of the 

figures in the resolution. And so without objection, the following 

items provided to your offices earlier this week will be considered 

en bloc and are considered as read: House Resolution 220, Condemning the Government of Iran’s State-Sponsored Persecution of 

Its Baha’i Minority, and Ros-Lehtinen amendment 57. 

[The information referred to follows:]

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Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Without objection, all members may have 5 

days to submit statements and materials for the record. I now recognize myself to speak. 

First, I want to thank my good friend, my Florida colleague, 

Ranking Member Deutch, our full committee Ranking Member 

Eliot Engel for joining me in introducing this resolution and I 

would also like to thank Chairman Royce and his staff for working 

closely with us to make this markup happen. 

With all the focus being on Iran’s nuclear program and the 

JCPOA, many people often lose sight of the regime’s horrendous 

human rights record, and while we must continue to shine a light 

on the dangers of Iran’s nuclear program, its ballistic missile program, its support for terror, and its continued provocations against 

the United States and our ally, the democratic Jewish State of 

Israel, we cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Iranian 

people under the Supreme Leader, and the so-called moderate 

Rouhani, and we must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of the 

ethnic and religious minorities in Iran, like the Baha’i. 

With over 300,000 adherents, the Baha’i minority in Iran is the 

largest non-Muslim religious minority in that country, but because 

of their faith, they are forced to endure terrible persecution and repression by the Iranian regime. Baha’i school children are constantly harassed and pressured to recant their beliefs, and adult 

Baha’i adherents are barred from public sector employment, and 

private sector employers are pressured to not hire them. 

The Iranian regime will not recognize Baha’i marriages, and 

worse, Baha’i cemeteries and holy places are constantly attacked 

and destroyed. Members of this religious minority are routinely 

subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention, their homes are frequently raided and their property is being confiscated. Hundreds of 

Baha’i have been killed by the Iranian regime since the 1979 revoVerDate 0ct 09 2002 14:42 Oct 05, 2016 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 F:\WORK\_MENA\091516M\21544 SHIRL

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lution. Scores have been executed and thousands more have been 

imprisoned. 

Currently, there are 60 Baha’is in prison, including the seven 

leaders of the Baha’i community in Iran who are serving 20-year 

sentences, the longest of any prisoner of conscience in Iran. 

House Resolution 220 shines a light on this dire situation, and 

puts the Iranian regime on notice that the world is watching its 

violations of religious freedom and human rights, and will not 

stand idly by in the face of this brutal repression. 

This resolution calls on the Iranian regime to release the imprisoned Baha’is and all other religious prisoners. It urges the President and Secretary of State to condemn the Iranian regime’s continued violation of human rights, and this resolution urges the 

President and the Secretary of State to impose sanctions on individual Iranian officials directly responsible for human rights violations in Iran. 

The administration has the tools available to it, and it has the 

evidence of wrongdoing by Iranian regime officials. It is time to use 

those tools that Congress has given it to hold these officials accountable for their human rights abuses. I urge my colleagues to 

support this measure. I now turn to my good friend and Florida colleague, the ranking member, for his remarks. 

Mr. DEUTCH. Thank you, Madam Chairman, thanks for holding 

today’s markup. I would like to thank the other members who introduced this legislation along with us, Representatives Engel, 

Chabot, Schakowsky, and Dold. The resolution before us condemns 

the government of Iran’s systemic, state-sponsored persecution of 

the Baha’i faith. 

The treatment that Baha’i receive in their own country is deplorable. It deserves to be condemned by all responsible nations. Now, 

the discussion in this committee over Iran’s human rights abuses 

is unfortunately nothing new. This is a regime that brutally represses political opposition, it violates due process, executes minors, detains foreign nationals, and essentially violates the most 

basic rights of it citizens daily by using technology to restrict the 

communication and access to information. 

The Baha’i community has been severely targeted. Baha’i have 

been banned from practicing their faith. Baha’i have been denied 

jobs. They have had their homes raided and property confiscated, 

and they have had their leaders arrested and imprisoned. Since 

1979, more than 200 Baha’i leaders have been executed. 

Currently, seven Baha’i leaders are serving up the longest sentences handed down to any prisoners of conscience in Iran, having 

been convicted of crimes such as, and I quote, ‘‘spying for Israel, 

insulting religious sanctities, propaganda against the regime, and 

spreading corruption on earth.’’

Madam Chairman, 15 times before, this Congress has condemned 

the persecution of the Baha’i. We now have new channels for engagement with Iran, and when U.S. officials meet with their Iranian counterparts, human rights must be on the agenda every 

time. I have been proud to partner with the chairman in past efforts to impose new sanctions against Iranian officials for human 

rights abuses. Those sanctions are still on the books. They did not 

9

disappear when the nuclear deal was signed, and the administration has stated it is committed to enforcing them. 

The resolution before us today puts this Congress on record once 

again. We will stand up for the rights of religious minorities, and 

we will never be silent when it comes to calling out those who commit human rights abuses. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution in support of the Baha’i community, and I yield back. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Well said. Thank you, Mr. Deutch. I would 

now like to recognize other members for their statements. Mr. 

Chabot of Ohio. 

Mr. CHABOT. Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and thank 

you for your leadership on this very important issue condemning 

the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of the 

Baha’i minority in that country. 

Iran’s persecution of its Baha’i minority is sponsored by the 

state, and it is in violation of international law, the International 

Covenants on Human Rights. Since the revolution in 1979, at least 

200 Baha’i religious leaders have been executed by the state; 

10,000 have been dismissed from their jobs; 700 have been arrested 

for no reason at all since 2005. The Baha’i are required to register 

with the police, their homes are raided, their businesses and property are confiscated, their children are denied the right to an education, their cemeteries are desecrated. It goes on and on. 

Why does all this happen? Because the Islamic Republic of Iran 

sees the Baha’i as heretics who deserve to be persecuted. It is absolutely outrageous. The Islamic Republic of Iran is in violation of its 

international legal commitments, the International Covenants on 

Human Rights. The resolution before us this morning condemns 

Iran’s persecution of the Baha’i and calls upon the Iranian Government to release seven imprisoned Baha’i leaders and 12 educators. 

This resolution calls on the President and Secretary of State to 

work with our allies to condemn Iran’s treatment of its Baha’i minority and its deplorable human rights record. Finally, it urges the 

President and Secretary of State to utilize the comprehensive Iran 

Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to sanction 

Iran for its mistreatment of its Baha’i community and its other violations of human rights under international law. 

Once again, I thank you, Madam Chair, and the other members 

of the committee who support this measure, and I yield back the 

balance of my time. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you, Mr. Chabot. 

Mr. Cicilline of Rhode Island. 

Mr. CICILLINE. Thank you, Madam Chairman and Ranking Member Deutch, for holding this markup today. I commend you both for 

introducing this important resolution condemning the Government 

of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its 

continued violation of the International Covenants on Human 

Rights, and I am proud to have joined as a cosponsor. 

I am pleased that this subcommittee has come together, as it so 

often does, in the spirit of bipartisanship, to pass legislation that 

deals with important issues. As we are all well aware, the Government of Iran continues to engage in widespread human rights 

abuses. 

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On March 2016, reported the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, found that 

Iran is in violation of its international human rights obligations by 

continuing practices that criminalize the exercise of fundamental 

human rights. 

Iran’s ethnic, religious, and linguistic minority communities face 

persistent discrimination and persecution. The Government of Iran 

systematically discriminates against religious and ethnic minorities, including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Sufis, Zoroastrians, 

Kurds, Arabs, Baluchis, Turkmen, and Osiris, and Muslims deemed 

as divergent from state ideology, among others. Baha’is are the 

country’s largest non-Muslim religious minority. 

Since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, systemic persecution 

of Baha’is has been a matter of government policy. The Iranian 

Government’s attacks on Baha’is have been on the increase, and 

since 2005, more than 860 Baha’is have been arrested, including all 

seven members of a former leadership group serving the Baha’i 

community of Iran. 

Other types of persecution inflicted on the Baha’i community in 

Iran include economic and educational discrimination, strict limits 

on the right to assemble and worship, and the dissemination of 

anti-Baha’i propaganda in the government-led news media. Attacks 

on Baha’i to Baha’i-owned properties go unprosecuted and 

unpunished, creating a sense of impunity for attackers. 

Aside from anti-Baha’i persecution, Iran’s other human rights 

violations run the gamut. The Guardian Counsel of Iran disqualified thousands of candidates from running in the 2016 parliamentary elections, and the 88-member assembly of experts and continues to tightly control all election activities. 

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, as of December 2015, Iran held at least 50 journalists, bloggers, and social 

media activists in detention. Iran carries out the second highest 

number of executions of any country in the world after China, and 

according to the Human Rights Watch, more than 800 individuals 

were reportedly executed in 2015, most for drug-related charges. 

Widespread immunity remains in place for police and security 

forces that commit human rights violations. The penal code criminalizes all sexual relations outside of marriage, and individuals 

can be put to death for consensual same-sex conduct. Women remain significantly underrepresented in politics and government, 

and are denied equal rights in divorce, child custody, and inheritance. 

The Government of Iran provides no protection to women and 

children forced into sex trafficking, and officials have been 

complicit in sex trafficking frequently. 

We must continue to expose blatant violations of human rights 

around the world. I therefore strongly support this important resolution which condemns Iran for its systemic, state-sponsored 

human rights abuses and urge all of my colleagues to do the same. 

And with that, I yield back. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you so much, Mr. Cicilline. We will 

turn now to Mr. Grayson of Florida. 

Mr. GRAYSON. I have no statement on this. Thank you very 

much. 

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Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Thank you. Hearing no further requests for 

recognition, the Chair now moves that the subcommittee favorably 

report the items considered en bloc to the full committee. All those 

in favor, say aye. 

All opposed, no. 

In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, the motion is approved, and House Resolution 220 is reported favorably to the full 

committee as amended. 

I want to thank all of the members and the staff for the assistance and cooperation that went into today’s markup. Thank you so 

much. And with that, the subcommittee stands adjourned. Thank 

you, ladies and gentlemen. 

[Whereupon, at 9:47 a.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.] 

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