IV

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 124

Concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Baha’i community.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 21, 1993

Mr. PORTER (for himself, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. HAMILTON, Mr. GILMAN, Mr.

HOYER, Mr. HYDE, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. SWETT, Ms.

SLAUGHTER, Mr. KOPETSKI, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr.

SERRANO, Mr. HUGHES, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. MACHTLEY, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms.

ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. BROWN of California, Mrs.

MORELLA, Mr. FROST, Mr. BARCA of Wisconsin, Mr. SABO, Mr.

DEUTSCH, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. FISH, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr.

SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. HALL of Ohio, Mrs. UNSOELD, Mr. SCHUMER,

Mr. SPRATT, Mr. LEACH, Mr. MYERS of Indiana, Mr. FINGERHUT, Mr.

HASTINGS, and Mr. ENGEL) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Baha’i

community.

Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, and 1992, the Congress,

by concurrent resolution, declared that it holds the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of

all its nationals, including members of the Baha’i Faith,

Iran’s largest religious minority;

Whereas in such resolutions and in numerous other appeals,

the Congress condemned the Government of Iran’s reli-
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gious persecution of the Baha’i community, including the

execution of more than 200 Baha’is, the imprisonment of

additional thousands, and other repressive and discriminatory actions against Baha’is based solely upon their religious beliefs;

Whereas in 1992, the Government of Iran summarily executed a leading member of the Baha’i community, arrested and imprisoned several other Baha’is, condemned

two Baha’i prisoners to death on account of their religion, and confiscated individual Baha’is’ homes and personal properties in several cities;

Whereas the Government of Iran continues to deny the

Baha’i community the right to organize, to elect its leaders, to hold community property for worship or assembly,

to operate religious schools and to conduct other normal

religious community activities; and

Whereas on February 22, 1993, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights published a formerly confidential

Iranian government document that constitutes a blueprint for the destruction of the Baha’i community and reveals that these repressive actions are the result of a deliberate policy designed and approved by the highest officials of the Government of Iran: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) continues to hold the Government of Iran

4 responsible for upholding the rights of all its nation5 als, including members of the Baha’i community, in

6 a manner consistent with Iran’s obligations under

7 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
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•HCON 124 IH

1 other international agreements guaranteeing the civil

2 and political rights of its citizens;

3 (2) condemns the repressive anti-Baha’i policy

4 adopted by the Government of Iran, as set forth in

5 a confidential official document which explicitly

6 states that Baha’is shall be denied access to edu7 cation and employment, and that the government’s

8 policy is to deal with Baha’is ‘‘in such a way that

9 their progress and development are blocked’’;

10 (3) expresses concern that individual Baha’is

11 continue to suffer from severely repressive and dis12 criminatory government actions, solely on account of

13 their religion, and that the Baha’i community con14 tinues to be denied legal recognition and the basic

15 rights to organize, elect its leaders, educate its

16 youth, and conduct the normal activities of a law17 abiding religious community;

18 (4) urges the Government of Iran to extend to

19 the Baha’i community the rights guaranteed by the

20 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the

21 international covenants of human rights, including

22 the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and

23 equal protection of the law; and

24 (5) calls upon the President to continue—
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1 (A) to emphasize that the United States

2 regards the human rights practices of the Gov3 ernment of Iran, particularly its treatment of

4 the Baha’i community and other religious mi5 norities, as a significant factor in the develop6 ment of the United States Government’s rela7 tions with the Government of Iran;

8 (B) to urge the Government of Iran to

9 emancipate the Baha’i community by granting

10 those rights guaranteed by the Universal Dec11 laration of Human Rights and the international

12 covenants on human rights; and

13 (C) to encourage other governments to

14 continue to appeal to the Government of Iran,

15 and to cooperate with other governments and

16 international organizations, including the Unit17 ed Nations and its agencies, in efforts to pro18 tect the religious rights of the Baha’is and

19 other minorities through joint appeals to the

20 Government of Iran and through other appro21 priate actions.

Æ