IV
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 504
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the contin-
uous repression of freedoms within Iran and of individual human rights
abuses, particularly with regard to women.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 25, 2002
Mr. LANTOS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on International Relations
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives con-
cerning 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, polit-
ical, and religious rights, and the rule of law, as evi-
denced by increasingly frequent antigovernment and anti-
Khatami demonstrations within Iran and by statements
of numerous Iranian expatriates and dissidents;
Whereas Iran is an ideological dictatorship presided over by
an unelected Supreme Leader with limitless veto power,
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an unelected Expediency Council and Council of Guard-
ians capable of eviscerating any reforms, and a President
elected only after the aforementioned disqualified 234
other candidates for being too liberal, reformist, or sec-
ular;
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 incli-
nation 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, corrup-
tion, 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 sophisti-
cated weaponry to the Palestinian Authority despite
Chairman Arafat’s cease-fire agreement, consistently
seeks to undermine the Middle East peace process, pro-
vides safe-haven to al-Qa’ida and Taliban terrorists, al-
lows transit of arms for guerrillas seeking to undermine
Turkey, an ally of the United States, provides transit for
terrorists seeking to destabilize the United States-pro-
tected 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
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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
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that—
(1) legitimizing the regime in Iran stifles the
growth of the genuine democratic forces in Iran and
does not serve the national security interest of the
United States;
(2) positive gestures of the United States to-
ward Iran should be directed toward the people of
Iran, and not political figures whose survival de-
pends upon preservation of the current regime; and
(3) it should be the policy of the United States
to seek a genuine democratic government in Iran
that will restore freedom to the Iranian people,
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abandon terrorism, and live in peace and security
with the international community.
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