IV 

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 


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•HRES 549 IH 

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; 


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•HRES 549 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses its support for all Iranian citizens 

3 who struggle for freedom, human rights, civil lib4 erties, and the protection of the rule of law; 

5 (2) condemns the ongoing violence against dem6 onstrators by the Government of Iran, pro-govern7 ment militias, and affiliated entities against the peo8 ple of Iran, which has escalated since the June 12, 

9 2009, process of selecting Iran’s next political lead10 er; and 

11 (3) affirms the universality of individual rights 

12 and the importance of democratic and fair elections. 

Æ 


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