III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 415 

Calling for a renewed focus on the Government of the Islamic Republic 

of Iran’s violations of internationally-recognized human rights as found 

in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 11, 2010 

Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. KAUFMAN, Mr. 

LEVIN, and Mr. KERRY) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Calling for a renewed focus on the Government of the Islamic 

Republic of Iran’s violations of internationally-recognized 

human rights as found in the Universal Declaration of 

Human Rights. 

Whereas the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has 

violated international standards for human rights by 

using violence to disperse peaceful assemblies by its own 

citizens; 

Whereas the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran suppressed peaceful commemorations by members of Iran’s 

Green Movement at the anniversary of Iran’s Islamic revolution on February 11, 2010; 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
2 

SRES 415 ATS 

Whereas the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s 

sustained campaign of violence against Iranian citizens 

who have peacefully protested the irregularities in the 

flawed Iranian presidential elections of June 12, 2009 

has demonstrated to the world that the present Iranian 

regime is fully capable of widespread violence against its 

own citizens; 

Whereas the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran currently has 65 journalists and bloggers imprisoned, more 

than any single country in the world, according to Reporters without Borders and in the past week arrested 10 

journalists; 

Whereas the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has 

restricted access to the internet, including its recent announcement to permanently block Google’s Gmail service; 

Whereas Iranian citizen’s right to due process has been violated, with the judiciary detaining government critics and 

religious minorities, and ordering executions of peaceful 

demonstrators; 

Whereas the use of arbitrary detention and the infliction of 

cruel and degrading punishments by the Iranian authorities are in direct violation of Articles 7, 9 and 10 of the 

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 

(ICCPR) as well as Articles 22 (the right to human dignity), 36 (Sentencing in accordance with the law), 38 

(prohibition of torture) and 39 (the rights of arrested 

persons) of the Iranian Constitution. 

1 Resolved, That the Senate of the United States: 

2 (1) pays tribute to the courageous advocates for 

3 democracy and human rights in the Islamic Republic 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
3 

SRES 415 ATS 

1 of Iran who are engaged in peaceful efforts to en2 courage democratic reform; 

3 (2) notes that it is the right of the people of the 

4 Islamic Republic of Iran to peacefully assemble and 

5 to express their opinions and aspirations without in6 timidation, repression, and violence; 

7 (3) supports freedom of speech in the Islamic 

8 Republic of Iran as elsewhere and the ability of jour9 nalists and bloggers to report without repression by 

10 government authorities; 

11 (4) desires that the men and women of Iran be 

12 able to enjoy due process in the Iranian judicial sys13 tem including the right to a fair trial; 

14 (5) expresses serious concern over the Govern15 ment of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s brutal sup16 pression of its citizens through censorship, imprison17 ment, and continued acts of violence; 

18 (6) denounces the atmosphere of impunity in 

19 the Islamic Republic of Iran for those who employ 

20 intimidation, harassment, or violence to restrict and 

21 suppress freedom of speech, freedom of expression, 

22 freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press; 

23 (7) urges the Government of the Islamic Repub24 lic of Iran to fully observe the ICCPR, which has 

25 been ratified by the Islamic Republic of Iran and 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
4 

SRES 415 ATS 

1 states, ‘‘Everyone shall have the right to freedom of 

2 expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, 

3 receive and impart information and ideas of all 

4 kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writ5 ing or in print, in the form of art, or through any 

6 other media of his choice’’. 

7 (8) calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to 

8 abide by the resolutions adopted by the U.N. Gen9 eral Assembly, in particular the resolution on the sit10 uation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of 

11 Iran of December 2009; 

12 (9) communicates deep concern that, despite 

13 the Islamic Republic of Iran’s standing invitation to 

14 all thematic special procedures mandate holders, it 

15 has not fulfilled any requests from those special 

16 mechanisms to visit the country in four years and 

17 has not answered numerous communications from 

18 those special mechanisms, and strongly urges the 

19 Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to fully 

20 cooperate with the special mechanisms, especially the 

21 Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or ar22 bitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on tor23 ture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treat24 ment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on the 

25 promotion and protection of the right to freedom of 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
5 

SRES 415 ATS 

1 opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on 

2 the situation of human rights defenders, the Work3 ing Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Working 

4 Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; 

5 (10) encourages the UN Human Rights Council 

6 to fully examine these issues during its Universal 

7 Periodic Review of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 

8 February 15, 2010. 

Æ 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS