106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 257
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Baha’i
community.
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 257
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, and 1996,
Congress, by concurrent resolution, declared that it holds
the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the
rights of all its nationals, including members of the
Baha’i Faith, Iran’s largest religious minority;
Whereas Congress has deplored the Government of Iran’s re-
ligious persecution of the Baha’i community in such reso-
•HCON 257 EH
lutions and in numerous other appeals, and has con-
demned Iran’s execution of more than 200 Baha’is and
the imprisonment of thousands of others solely on ac-
count of their religious beliefs;
Whereas in July 1998 a Baha’i, Mr. Ruhollah Rowhani, was
executed by hanging in Mashhad after being held in soli-
tary confinement for 9 months on the charge of con-
verting a Muslim woman to the Baha’i Faith, a charge
the woman herself refuted;
Whereas 2 Baha’is remain on death row in Iran, 2 on
charges on apostasy, and 10 others are serving prison
terms on charges arising solely from their religious beliefs
or activities;
Whereas the Government of Iran continues to deny individual
Baha’is access to higher education and government em-
ployment and denies recognition and religious rights to
the Baha’i community, according to the policy set forth
in a confidential Iranian Government document which
was revealed by the United Nations Commission on
Human Rights in 1993;
Whereas Baha’is have been banned from teaching and study-
ing at Iranian universities since the Islamic Revolution
and therefore created the Baha’i Institute of Higher
Education, or Baha’i Open University, to provide edu-
cational opportunities to Baha’i youth using volunteer
faculty and a network of classrooms, libraries, and lab-
oratories in private homes and buildings throughout Iran;
Whereas in September and October 1998, Iranian authorities
arrested 36 faculty members of the Open University, 4
of whom have been given prison sentences ranging be-
tween 3 to 10 years, even though the law makes no men-
•HCON 257 EH
tion of religious instruction within one’s own religious
community as being an illegal activity;
Whereas Iranian intelligence officers looted classroom equip-
ment, textbooks, computers, and other personal property
from 532 Baha’i homes in an attempt to close down the
Open University;
Whereas all Baha’i community properties in Iran have been
confiscated by the government, and Iranian Baha’is are
not permitted to elect their leaders, organize as a com-
munity, operate religious schools, or conduct other reli-
gious community activities guaranteed by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights;
Whereas on February 22, 1993, the United Nations Commis-
sion on Human Rights published a formerly confidential
Iranian government document that constitutes a blue-
print for the destruction of the Baha’i community and re-
veals that these repressive actions are the result of a de-
liberate policy designed and approved by the highest offi-
cials of the Government of Iran; and
Whereas in 1998 the United Nations Special Representative
for Human Rights, Maurice Copithorne, was denied entry
into Iran: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress—
(1) continues to hold the Government of Iran
responsible for upholding the rights of all its nation-
als, including members of the Baha’i community, in
a manner consistent with Iran’s obligations under
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
•HCON 257 EH
(C) to emphasize the need for the United
Nations Special Representative for Human
Rights to be granted permission to enter Iran;
(D) to urge the Government of Iran to
emancipate the Baha’i community by granting
those rights guaranteed by the Universal Dec-
laration of Human Rights and the international
covenants on human rights; and
(E) to encourage other governments to
continue to appeal to the Government of Iran,
and to cooperate with other governments and
international 
organizations, 
including 
the
United Nations and its agencies, in efforts to
protect the religious rights of the Baha’is and
other minorities through joint appeals to the
Government of Iran and through other appro-
priate actions.
Passed the House of Representatives September 19,
2000.
Attest:
Clerk.