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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 183 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 183

     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
   Broadcasting Board of Governors should broadcast and direct Azeri 
language content into the Islamic Republic of Iran and Baloch language 
 content into the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of 
                               Pakistan.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 25, 2013

Mr. Rohrabacher submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                  to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
   Broadcasting Board of Governors should broadcast and direct Azeri 
language content into the Islamic Republic of Iran and Baloch language 
 content into the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of 
                               Pakistan.

Whereas the ethnic Azeri and Baloch peoples compose 18 percent of the population 
        of Iran;
Whereas the Azeri and Baloch minorities have maintained proud and distinctive 
        cultures and identities dating back to ancient times;
Whereas the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty currently 
        broadcast to Iran in the Persian language;
Whereas the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty currently 
        operate Azeri language services;
Whereas it is in the national interest of the United States for accurate and 
        credible news to reach all the ethnic groups in Iran and Pakistan;
Whereas it is believed the area inhabited by the Baloch people holds a large 
        reserve of oil, natural gas, gold, and other minerals and comprises 
        1,000 miles of strategically significant coast line from the Persian 
        Gulf and along the Arabian Sea;
Whereas the Governments of Iran and Pakistan systematically repress human 
        rights, political expression, and civil society activists which has been 
        reported by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International;
Whereas the Government of Pakistan has refused to recognize the legitimate 
        national aspirations of the Balochi people and has carried out a 
        campaign of politically motivated murders and followed a policy known as 
        ``Kill and Dump'' where Baloch activists are kidnapped and their bodies 
        are later found in public, often mutilated;
Whereas the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights 
        in the Islamic Republic of Iran found that the ``Sistan-Balochistan is 
        arguably the most underdeveloped region in Iran, with the highest 
        poverty, infant and child mortality rates, and lowest life expectancy 
        and literacy rates in the country'';
Whereas the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights 
        in the Islamic Republic of Iran reports that ``Baloch activists have 
        reportedly been subject to arbitrary arrests and torture'';
Whereas the Government of Iran prevents the Balochi or Azeri languages from 
        being used in formal and public places;
Whereas the Baloch minority in Iran is mostly Sunni Muslim and subject to 
        religious persecution by the ruling Shia theocracy;
Whereas all the people of Iran and Pakistan have the right of self-
        determination, to choose their form of government, and to elect their 
        leaders; and
Whereas it is the policy of the United States to oppose aggression and the 
        violation of human rights inherent in the subjugation of national groups 
        like the Azeris in Iran and Baloch in Iran and Pakistan: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Broadcasting Board of Governors should broadcast and direct Azeri 
language content into the Islamic Republic of Iran and Baloch language 
content into the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of 
Pakistan.
                                 <all>
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