Title: Condemning the Government of Iran's torture and murder of Mahsa Amini and its crackdown on protesters seeking basic human rights, and supporting the protesters in their demands for freedom.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution condemns the Iranian regime's torture and murder of Mahsa Amini.
The resolution condemns the Iranian regime's laws that discriminate against women.
The resolution also condemns the Iranian regime's use of violence against those peacefully protesting the government and seeking freedom.
Finally, the resolution recognizes the right to self-determination for the Iranian people struggling to establish a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear Iran.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1397 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1397

 Condemning the Government of Iran's torture and murder of Mahsa Amini 
    and its crackdown on protesters seeking basic human rights, and 
        supporting the protesters in their demands for freedom.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 2022

Mrs. Kim of California (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Salazar, and 
Ms. Spanberger) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                  to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Condemning the Government of Iran's torture and murder of Mahsa Amini 
    and its crackdown on protesters seeking basic human rights, and 
        supporting the protesters in their demands for freedom.

Whereas the 1979 revolution led to the establishment of an Islamic Republic 
        based on a system of Sharia law, which particularly discriminates 
        heavily against women;
Whereas the Iranian regime, both in law and practice, continues to rule by 
        violence and repression, in sharp contrast with the principles outlined 
        in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International 
        Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran remains party;
Whereas Iran's discriminatory legal code established a strict dress code that 
        requires all women to wear a hijab in public;
Whereas Article 638 of the Iranian Islamic Penal Code states: ``Anyone in public 
        places and roads who openly commits a sinful act, in addition to the 
        punishment provided for the act, shall be sentenced to two months' 
        imprisonment or up to 74 lashes.'';
Whereas Iran's so-called ``Morality Police'', a component of Iran's Law 
        Enforcement Forces (LEF), is responsible for enforcement of Iran's 
        Sharia law;
Whereas, on September 13, 2022, Iran's so-called ``Morality Police'' arrested 
        22-year-old Mahsa Amini for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly and 
        sent her to a regime-run ``reeducation center'';
Whereas after Mahsa Amini was arrested and taken to police headquarters, she was 
        transferred to the hospital in a coma and died 3 days later from 
        internal injuries;
Whereas the LEF claims that Mahsa Amini died from a heart ailment, though her 
        family says she did not suffer from any pre-existing health conditions, 
        and the LEF refused to let Mahsa Amini's father see her body;
Whereas the LEF denies accusations of wrongful death and of torture of Mahsa 
        Amini;
Whereas, on September 17, 2022, thousands of peaceful protesters took to the 
        streets to demand accountability for Mahsa Amini's wrongful death and 
        Iran's discrimination against women;
Whereas during these peaceful protests, Iranian women burned their hijabs and 
        cut their hair to protest mandatory veiling and the Iranian regime's 
        longstanding discrimination against women;
Whereas, on September 17, 2022, Iranian security forces, including the Islamic 
        Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unlawfully fired on peaceful 
        protesters, and killed women, teenagers, and men;
Whereas, since September 17, 2022, Iranian security forces continue violently 
        cracking down and killing protesters;
Whereas, on September 26, 2022, Iranian state media reported 41 people killed in 
        the protests, while other reports suggest the number of dead to be 
        several times higher; and
Whereas, on September 22, 2022, the Department of the Treasury's Office of 
        Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the so-called ``Morality 
        Police'' and 7 senior security and law enforcement officials, 
        responsible for the use of repressive and violent tactics against 
        peaceful protests in Iran: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the Iranian regime's torture and murder of 
        Mahsa Amini;
            (2) condemns the Iranian regime's laws that discriminate 
        against women;
            (3) condemns the Iranian regime's use of violence and 
        suppression against women;
            (4) condemns the Iranian regime's use of violence against 
        those peacefully protesting the government and seeking freedom;
            (5) recognizes the right to self-determination for the 
        Iranian people struggling to establish a democratic, secular, 
        and nonnuclear Republic of Iran;
            (6) expresses support for the tens of thousands of 
        protesters taking to the streets to demand freedom and basic 
        human rights;
            (7) calls on the Secretary of the Treasury to continue 
        sanctioning those responsible for the violent suppression of 
        peaceful protests, including regime officials implicated in the 
        murder of Mahsa Amini;
            (8) calls on the Secretary of State to use the voice and 
        vote of the United States in international organizations to 
        urge the adoption of resolutions condemning the Government of 
        Iran's murder of Mahsa Amini;
            (9) calls on the Secretary of State to use the diplomatic 
        resources necessary to ensure partners and allies of the United 
        States sanction Iran's so-called ``Morality Police'', as well 
        as all other repressive agencies such as the Ministry of 
        Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the Islamic Revolutionary 
        Guard Corps (IRGC), for gross violations of internationally 
        recognized human rights; and
            (10) calls on the Secretary of State to unequivocally 
        express support for the Iranian people and their desire for a 
        free, fair, and democratic Iran.
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