III

Calendar No. 351

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

MARCH 27 (legislative day, MARCH 26), 1996

Reported by Mr. HELMS, without amendment

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;
2

SCON 42 RS

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

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
3

SCON 42 RS

1 a manner consistent with Iran’s obligations under

2 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and

3 other international agreements guaranteeing the civil

4 and political rights of its citizens;

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

6 and actions of the Government of Iran, including the

7 denial of legal recognition to the Baha’i community

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

9 educate its youth, and conduct the normal activities

10 of a law-abiding religious community;

11 (3) expresses concern that individual Baha’is

12 continue to suffer from severely repressive and dis13 criminatory government actions, solely on account of

14 their religion;

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

16 the Baha’i community the rights guaranteed by the

17 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the

18 international covenants of human rights, including

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

20 equal protection of the law; and

21 (5) calls upon the President to continue—

22 (A) to assert the United States Govern23 ment’s concern regarding Iran’s violations of

24 the rights of its citizens, including members of

25 the Baha’i community, along with expressions
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SCON 42 RS

1 of its concern regarding the Iranian Govern2 ment’s support for international terrorism and

3 its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruc4 tion;

5 (B) to emphasize that the United States

6 regards the human rights practices of the Gov7 ernment of Iran, particularly its treatment of

8 the Baha’i community and other religious mi9 norities, as a significant factor in the develop10 ment of the United States Government’s rela11 tions with the Government of Iran;

12 (C) to urge the Government of Iran to

13 emancipate the Baha’i community by granting

14 those rights guaranteed by the Universal Dec15 laration of Human Rights and the international

16 covenants on human rights; and

17 (D) to encourage other governments to

18 continue to appeal to the Government of Iran,

19 and to cooperate with other governments and

20 international organizations, including the Unit21 ed Nations and its agencies, in efforts to pro22 tect the religious rights of the Baha’is and

23 other minorities through joint appeals to the

24 Government of Iran and through other appro25 priate actions.

Calendar No. 351

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 42

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Baha’i

community.

MARCH 27 (legislative day, MARCH 26), 1996

Reported without amendment