III

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 42

Concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Baha’i community.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

FEBRUARY 9 (legislative day, FEBRUARY 7), 1996

Mrs. KASSEBAUM (for herself, Mr. DODD, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr.

MACK, Mr. D’AMATO, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. SIMON, Mr.

GLENN, Mr. COHEN, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. PELL, Mr. COCHRAN, Ms.

SNOWE, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. KOHL, Mr. JEFFORDS, Mr. HELMS, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. STEVENS, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. HOLLINGS, Mr. CHAFEE, and Mr. GRASSLEY) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Baha’i

community.

Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994 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 the Congress has deplored the Government of Iran’s

religious persecution of the Baha’i community in such

resolutions and in numerous other appeals, and has condemned Iran’s execution of more than 200 Baha’is and
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the imprisonment of thousands of others solely on account of their religious beliefs;

Whereas the Government of Iran continues to deny individual

Baha’is access to higher education and government employment and denies recognition and religious rights to

the Baha’i community, according to the policy set forth

in a confidential Iranian Government document which

was revealed by the United Nations Commission on

Human Rights in 1993;

Whereas all Baha’i community properties in Iran have been

confiscated by the government and Iranian Baha’is are

not permitted to elect their leaders, organize as a community, operate religious schools or conduct other religious community activities guaranteed by the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights; 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 Senate (the House of Representatives

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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1 other international agreements guaranteeing the civil

2 and political rights of its citizens;

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

4 and actions of the Government of Iran, including the

5 denial of legal recognition to the Baha’i community

6 and the basic rights to organize, elect its leaders,

7 educate its youth, and conduct the normal activities

8 of a law-abiding religious community;

9 (3) expresses concern that individual Baha’is

10 continue to suffer from severely repressive and dis11 criminatory government actions, solely on account of

12 their religion;

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

14 the Baha’i community the rights guaranteed by the

15 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the

16 international covenants of human rights, including

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

18 equal protection of the law; and

19 (5) calls upon the President to continue—

20 (A) to assert the United States Govern21 ment’s concern regarding Iran’s violations of

22 the rights of its citizens, including members of

23 the Baha’i community, along with expressions

24 of its concern regarding the Iranian Govern25 ment’s support for international terrorism and
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1 its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruc2 tion;

3 (B) to emphasize that the United States

4 regards the human rights practices of the Gov5 ernment of Iran, particularly its treatment of

6 the Baha’i community and other religious mi7 norities, as a significant factor in the develop8 ment of the United States Government’s rela9 tions with the Government of Iran;

10 (C) to urge the Government of Iran to

11 emancipate the Baha’i community by granting

12 those rights guaranteed by the Universal Dec13 laration of Human Rights and the international

14 covenants on human rights; and

15 (D) to encourage other governments to

16 continue to appeal to the Government of Iran,

17 and to cooperate with other governments and

18 international organizations, including the Unit19 ed Nations and its agencies, in efforts to pro20 tect the religious rights of the Baha’is and

21 other minorities through joint appeals to the

22 Government of Iran and through other appro23 priate actions.

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