IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 183 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors should broadcast and direct Azeri language content 
into the Islamic Republic of Iran and Baloch language content into 
the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 25, 2013 
Mr. ROHRABACHER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Broadcasting Board of Governors should broadcast 
and direct Azeri language content into the Islamic Re-
public of Iran and Baloch language content into the 
Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of 
Pakistan. 
Whereas the ethnic Azeri and Baloch peoples compose 18 
percent of the population of Iran; 
Whereas the Azeri and Baloch minorities have maintained 
proud and distinctive cultures and identities dating back 
to ancient times; 
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•HRES 183 IH 
Whereas the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio 
Liberty currently broadcast to Iran in the Persian lan-
guage; 
Whereas the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio 
Liberty currently operate Azeri language services; 
Whereas it is in the national interest of the United States for 
accurate and credible news to reach all the ethnic groups 
in Iran and Pakistan; 
Whereas it is believed the area inhabited by the Baloch peo-
ple holds a large reserve of oil, natural gas, gold, and 
other minerals and comprises 1,000 miles of strategically 
significant coast line from the Persian Gulf and along the 
Arabian Sea; 
Whereas the Governments of Iran and Pakistan systemati-
cally repress human rights, political expression, and civil 
society activists which has been reported by Human 
Rights Watch and Amnesty International; 
Whereas the Government of Pakistan has refused to recog-
nize the legitimate national aspirations of the Balochi 
people and has carried out a campaign of politically moti-
vated murders and followed a policy known as ‘‘Kill and 
Dump’’ where Baloch activists are kidnapped and their 
bodies are later found in public, often mutilated; 
Whereas the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situ-
ation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran 
found that the ‘‘Sistan-Balochistan is arguably the most 
underdeveloped region in Iran, with the highest poverty, 
infant and child mortality rates, and lowest life expect-
ancy and literacy rates in the country’’; 
Whereas the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situ-
ation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran 
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•HRES 183 IH 
reports that ‘‘Baloch activists have reportedly been sub-
ject to arbitrary arrests and torture’’; 
Whereas the Government of Iran prevents the Balochi or 
Azeri languages from being used in formal and public 
places; 
Whereas the Baloch minority in Iran is mostly Sunni Muslim 
and subject to religious persecution by the ruling Shia 
theocracy; 
Whereas all the people of Iran and Pakistan have the right 
of self-determination, to choose their form of government, 
and to elect their leaders; and 
Whereas it is the policy of the United States to oppose ag-
gression and the violation of human rights inherent in 
the subjugation of national groups like the Azeris in Iran 
and Baloch in Iran and Pakistan: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that the Broadcasting Board of Governors 
should broadcast and direct Azeri language content into 
the Islamic Republic of Iran and Baloch language content 
into the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic 
of Pakistan. 
Æ 
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