III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 196 

Expressing the sense of the Senate on freedom of the press, freedom of 

speech, and freedom of expression in Iran. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 19, 2009 

Mr. KAUFMAN (for himself, Mr. KYL, and Mr. BUNNING) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate on freedom of the press, 

freedom of speech, and freedom of expression in Iran. 

Whereas since the June 12 Iranian presidential elections, 

there have been increased restrictions on freedom of the 

press in Iran and limitations on the free flow of information among the Iranian people; 

Whereas newspapers and news services have been restricted 

by the Government of Iran, preventing the publication of 

specific articles, blocking the transmission of some news 

broadcasts, and cancelling of foreign press credentials; 

Whereas websites and blogs have been blocked in Iran, including social networking sites such as Facebook and 

Twitter; 


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•SRES 196 ATS 

Whereas numerous Iranian journalists have been arrested, 

detained, imprisoned, or assaulted since June 12; 

Whereas foreign journalists have been prevented from covering street demonstrations, confined to their hotels, and 

told their visas would not be renewed; 

Whereas non-Iranian government news services, including the 

Associated Press, have been told they may not distribute 

Farsi-language reports; 

Whereas Iranian journalists were instructed by the Government of Iran to report solely from their offices; 

Whereas on June 13, the leading mobile phone operator in 

Iran, the government-owned Telecommunication Company of Iran, was suspended for over 24 hours; 

Whereas short message service (SMS) in Iran has been 

blocked, preventing text message communications and 

blocking internet sites that utilize such services; 

Whereas on June 14, an Al–Arabiya correspondent was instructed by the Iranian Ministry of Information to 

change a story and its Tehran bureau was subsequently 

closed; 

Whereas shortwave and medium wave transmissions of the 

Farsi-language Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s 

(RFE/RL) Radio Farda have been partially jammed 

since June 12; and 

Whereas satellite broadcasts, including those of the Voice of 

America’s Persian News Networkand the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), have been intermittently 

jammed since late May: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 196 ATS 

1 (1) respects the sovereignty, proud history, and 

2 rich culture of the Iranian people; 

3 (2) respects the universal values of freedom of 

4 speech and freedom of the press in Iran and 

5 throughout the world; 

6 (3) supports the Iranian people as they take 

7 steps to peacefully express their voices, opinions, and 

8 aspirations; 

9 (4) supports the Iranian people seeking access 

10 to news and other forms of information; 

11 (5) condemns the detainment, imprisonment, 

12 and intimidation of all journalists, in Iran and else13 where throughout the world; 

14 (6) supports journalists who take great risk to 

15 report on political events in Iran, including those 

16 surrounding the presidential election; 

17 (7) supports the efforts of the Broadcasting 

18 Board of Governors (BBG) to provide credible news 

19 and information within Iran through the Voice of 

20 America’s (VOA) 24-hour television station Persian 

21 News Network, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Lib22 erty’s (RFE/RL) Radio Farda 24-hour radio station; 

23 and 

24 (8) condemns acts of censorship, intimidation, 

25 and other restrictions on freedom of the press, freeVerDate Nov 24 2008 01:39 Jun 20, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR196.ATS SR196

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•SRES 196 ATS 

1 dom of speech, and freedom of expression in Iran 

2 and throughout the world. 

Æ 


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