IV 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 140

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the continuous repression of freedoms within Iran and of individual human rights 

abuses, particularly with regard to women. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 12, 2003

Mr. LANTOS (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. COX, Mr. 

BURTON of Indiana, and Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

International Relations 

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the continuous repression of freedoms within 

Iran and of individual human rights abuses, particularly 

with regard to women.

Whereas the people of the United States respect the Iranian 

people and value the contributions that Iran’s culture has 

made to world civilization for over 3 millennia; 

Whereas the Iranian people aspire to democracy, civil, political, and religious rights, and the rule of law, as evidenced by increasingly frequent antigovernment and antiKhatami demonstrations within Iran and by statements 

of numerous Iranian expatriates and dissidents; 
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•HRES 140 IH 

Whereas Iran is an ideological dictatorship presided over by 

an unelected Supreme Leader with limitless veto power, 

an unelected Expediency Council and Council of Guardians capable of eviscerating any reforms, and a President 

elected only after the aforementioned disqualified 234 

other candidates for being too liberal, reformist, or secular; 

Whereas the Iranian government has been developing a uranium enrichment program that by 2005 is expected to be 

capable of producing several nuclear weapons each year, 

which would further threaten nations in the region and 

around the world; 

Whereas the United States recognizes the Iranian peoples’ 

concerns that President Muhammad Khatami’s rhetoric 

has not been matched by his actions; 

Whereas President Khatami clearly lacks the ability and inclination to change the behavior of the Islamic Republic of 

Iran either toward the vast majority of Iranians who seek 

freedom or toward the international community; 

Whereas political repression, newspaper censorship, corruption, vigilante intimidation, arbitrary imprisonment of 

students, and public executions have increased since 

President Khatami’s inauguration in 1997; 

Whereas men and women are not equal under the laws of 

Iran and women are legally deprived of their basic rights; 

Whereas the Iranian Government shipped 50 tons of sophisticated weaponry to the Palestinian Authority despite 

Chairman Arafat’s cease-fire agreement, consistently 

seeks to undermine the Middle East peace process, provides safe-haven to al-Qa’ida and Taliban terrorists, allows transit of arms for guerrillas seeking to undermine 
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•HRES 140 IH 

Turkey, an ally of the United States, provides transit for 

terrorists seeking to destabilize the United States-protected safe-haven in Iraq, and develops weapons of mass 

destruction; 

Whereas since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 

and despite rhetorical protestations to the contrary, the 

Government of Iran has actively and repeatedly sought to 

undermine the United States war on terror; 

Whereas there is a broad-based movement for change in Iran 

that represents all sectors of Iranian society, including 

youth, women, student bodies, military personnel, and 

even religious figures, that is prodemocratic, believes in 

secular government, and is yearning to live in freedom; 

Whereas following the tragedies of September 11, 2001, tens 

of thousands of Iranians filled the streets spontaneously 

and in solidarity with the United States and the victims 

of the terrorist attacks; and 

Whereas the people of Iran deserve the support of the people 

of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that—

3 (1) legitimizing the regime in Iran stifles the 

4 growth of the genuine democratic forces in Iran and 

5 does not serve the national security interest of the 

6 United States; 

7 (2) positive gestures of the United States to8 ward Iran should be directed toward the people of 

9 Iran, and not political figures whose survival de10 pends upon preservation of the current regime; and 
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•HRES 140 IH 

1 (3) it should be the policy of the United States 

2 to seek a genuine democratic government in Iran 

3 that will restore freedom to the Iranian people, 

4 abandon terrorism, and live in peace and security 

5 with the international community.

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