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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 549 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 549

 Expressing support for all Iranian citizens who struggle for freedom, 
 human rights, civil liberties, and the protection of the rule of law.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 16, 2009

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing support for all Iranian citizens who struggle for freedom, 
 human rights, civil liberties, and the protection of the rule of law.

Whereas the United States supports the right of the citizens of Iran to have 
        free and independent elections for the selection of their political 
        leaders;
Whereas article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that 
        ``(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his 
        country, directly or through freely chosen representatives; (2) Everyone 
        has the right of equal access to public service in his country; (3) The 
        will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; 
        this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which 
        shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret 
        vote or by equivalent free voting procedures'';
Whereas, according to the State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights 
        Practices for 2008, Iran's ``poor human rights record worsened, and it 
        continued to commit numerous serious abuses . . . the government 
        severely limited citizens' right to change their government peacefully 
        through free and fair elections . . . authorities held political 
        prisoners and intensified a crackdown against women's rights reformers, 
        ethnic minority rights activists, student activists, and religious 
        minorities'';
Whereas Iran's system of government violates numerous international norms and 
        principles of democratic governance;
Whereas, on June 12, 2009, Iran engaged in the process of selecting that 
        country's new political leader;
Whereas the ensuing announcement by Iranian authorities of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's 
        ``overwhelming victory'' has sent Iranians into the streets since June 
        12, 2009, and has prompted unprecedented criticism of Iran's ruling 
        leaders;
Whereas in the streets of Tehran and other major cities, riot police, members of 
        the Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Basij militias are cracking down on 
        demonstrators who were protesting the results;
Whereas the government has cut Internet connections and cellphone service and 
        jammed foreign satellite TV and radio broadcasts;
Whereas most foreign journalists in Iran to cover the June 12, 2009, selection 
        process were reportedly expelled after the voting ended;
Whereas news websites were reportedly blocked by Iranian authorities and the 
        Iranian Government has reportedly arrested opposition political figures 
        and journalists;
Whereas the Iranian Government outlawed any protest following two days of 
        unrest, with the Interior Ministry warning that ``any disrupter of 
        public security would be dealt with according to the law''; and
Whereas the Government of Iran, pro-government militias, and affiliated entities 
        have attacked demonstrators, causing multiple injuries and fatalities: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its support for all Iranian citizens who 
        struggle for freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and the 
        protection of the rule of law;
            (2) condemns the ongoing violence against demonstrators by 
        the Government of Iran, pro-government militias, and affiliated 
        entities against the people of Iran, which has escalated since 
        the June 12, 2009, process of selecting Iran's next political 
        leader; and
            (3) affirms the universality of individual rights and the 
        importance of democratic and fair elections.
                                 <all>
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