IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 140
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 
MARCH 12, 2003
Mr. LANTOS (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. COX, Mr. 
BURTON of Indiana, and Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California) sub-
mitted 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;
•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 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 Iranian government has been developing a ura-
nium 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 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
•HRES 140 IH 
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 
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
•HRES 140 IH 
(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, 
abandon terrorism, and live in peace and security 
with the international community.
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