IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 109 
Condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of 
its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Cov-
enants on Human Rights. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 12, 2013 
Mr. GRIMM (for himself and Ms. SCHAKOWSKY) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored 
persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued vio-
lation of the International Covenants on Human Rights. 
Whereas, in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 
2000, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013, Congress de-
clared that it deplored the religious persecution by the 
Government of Iran of the Baha’i community and would 
hold the Government of Iran responsible for upholding 
the rights of all Iranian nationals, including members of 
the Baha’i faith; 
Whereas the United States Commission on International Reli-
gious Freedom 2012 Report stated, ‘‘The Baha’i commu-
nity has long been subject to particularly severe religious 
freedom violations in Iran. Baha’is, who number at least 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:21 Mar 13, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR109.IH
HR109
pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 109 IH 
300,000, are viewed as ‘heretics’ by Iranian authorities 
and may face repression on the grounds of apostasy.’’; 
Whereas the United States Commission on International Reli-
gious Freedom 2012 Report stated, ‘‘Since 1979, Iranian 
government authorities have killed more than 200 Baha’i 
leaders in Iran and dismissed more than 10,000 from 
government and university jobs.’’; 
Whereas the United States Commission on International Reli-
gious Freedom 2012 Report stated, ‘‘Baha’is may not es-
tablish places of worship, schools, or any independent re-
ligious associations in Iran.’’; 
Whereas the United States Commission on International Reli-
gious Freedom 2012 Report stated, ‘‘Baha’is are barred 
from the military and denied government jobs and pen-
sions as well as the right to inherit property. Their mar-
riages and divorces also are not recognized, and they 
have difficulty obtaining death certificates. Baha’i ceme-
teries, holy places, and community properties are often 
seized or desecrated, and many important religious sites 
have been destroyed.’’; 
Whereas the United States Commission on International Reli-
gious Freedom 2012 Report stated, ‘‘The Baha’i commu-
nity faces severe economic pressure, including denials of 
jobs in both the public and private sectors and of busi-
ness licenses. Iranian authorities often pressure employ-
ers of Baha’is to dismiss them from employment in the 
private sector.’’; 
Whereas the Department of State 2011 International Reli-
gious Freedom Report stated, ‘‘The government prohibits 
Baha’is from teaching and practicing their faith and sub-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:21 Mar 13, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR109.IH
HR109
pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 109 IH 
jects them to many forms of discrimination that followers 
of other religions do not face.’’; 
Whereas the Department of State 2011 International Reli-
gious Freedom Report stated, ‘‘According to law, Baha’i 
blood is considered ‘mobah’, meaning it can be spilled 
with impunity.’’; 
Whereas the Department of State 2011 International Reli-
gious Freedom Report stated that ‘‘members of religious 
minorities, with the exception of Baha’is, can serve in 
lower ranks of government employment’’, and ‘‘Baha’is 
are barred from all leadership positions in the govern-
ment and military’’; 
Whereas the Department of State 2011 International Reli-
gious Freedom Report stated, ‘‘Baha’is suffered frequent 
government harassment and persecution, and their prop-
erty rights generally were disregarded. The government 
raided Baha’i homes and businesses and confiscated large 
amounts of private and commercial property, as well as 
religious materials belonging to Baha’is.’’; 
Whereas the Department of State 2011 International Reli-
gious Freedom Report stated, ‘‘Baha’is also are required 
to register with the police’’; 
Whereas the Department of State 2011 International Reli-
gious Freedom Report stated that ‘‘[p]ublic and private 
universities continued to deny admittance to and expelled 
Baha’i students’’ and ‘‘[d]uring the year, at least 30 Ba-
ha’is were barred or expelled from universities on political 
or religious grounds’’; 
Whereas the Department of State 2011 International Reli-
gious Freedom Report stated, ‘‘Baha’is are regularly de-
nied compensation for injury or criminal victimization.’’; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:21 Mar 13, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR109.IH
HR109
pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 109 IH 
Whereas, on March 6, 2012, the United Nations Special 
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Is-
lamic Republic of Iran issued a report (A/HRC/19/66), 
which stated that ‘‘the Special Rapporteur continues to 
be alarmed by communications that demonstrate the sys-
temic and systematic persecution of members of unrecog-
nized religious communities, particularly the Baha’i com-
munity, in violation of international conventions’’ and ex-
pressed concern regarding ‘‘an intensive defamation cam-
paign meant to incite discrimination and hate against 
Baha’is’’; 
Whereas, on May 23, 2012, the United Nations Secretary- 
General issued a report, which stated that ‘‘the Special 
Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief . . . pointed 
out that the Islamic Republic of Iran had a policy of sys-
tematic persecution of persons belonging to the Baha’i 
faith, excluding them from the application of freedom of 
religion or belief by simply denying that their faith had 
the status of a religion’’; 
Whereas, on August 22, 2012, the United Nations Secretary- 
General issued a report, which stated, ‘‘The international 
community continues to express concerns about the very 
serious discrimination against ethnic and religious mi-
norities in law and in practice, in particular the Baha’i 
community. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of 
human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed 
alarm about the systemic and systematic persecution of 
members of the Baha’i community, including severe so-
cioeconomic pressure and arrests and detention. He also 
deplored the Government’s tolerance of an intensive defa-
mation campaign aimed at inciting discrimination and 
hate against Baha’is.’’; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:21 Mar 13, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR109.IH
HR109
pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 109 IH 
Whereas, on September 13, 2012, the United Nations Special 
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Is-
lamic Republic of Iran issued a report (A/67/369), which 
stated, ‘‘Reports and interviews submitted to the Special 
Rapporteur also continue to portray a disturbing trend 
with regard to religious freedom in the country. Members 
of both recognized and unrecognized religions have re-
ported various levels of intimidation, arrest, detention 
and interrogation that focus on their religious beliefs.’’, 
and stated, ‘‘At the time of drafting the report, 105 
members of the Baha’i community were reported to be in 
detention.’’; 
Whereas, on November 27, 2012, the Third Committee of the 
United Nations General Assembly adopted a draft resolu-
tion (A/C.3/67/L.51), which noted, ‘‘[I]ncreased persecu-
tion and human rights violations against persons belong-
ing to unrecognized religious minorities, particularly 
members of the Baha’i faith and their defenders, includ-
ing escalating attacks, an increase in the number of ar-
rests and detentions, the restriction of access to higher 
education on the basis of religion, the sentencing of 
twelve Baha’is associated with Baha’i educational institu-
tions to lengthy prison terms, the continued denial of ac-
cess to employment in the public sector, additional re-
strictions on participation in the private sector, and the 
de facto criminalization of membership in the Baha’i 
faith.’’; 
Whereas, on December 20, 2012, the United Nations General 
Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/67/182), which 
called upon the government of Iran ‘‘[t]o eliminate dis-
crimination against, and exclusion of . . . members of the 
Baha’i Faith, regarding access to higher education, and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:21 Mar 13, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR109.IH
HR109
pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS