Schakowsky, McCaul, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Persecution of Iranian Baha’i
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Michael McCaul (TX-10) led 20 House colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution condemning Iran’s government for persecuting members of the Baha’i faith. The Iranian Baha’i community is the largest religious minority in Iran with a membership of more than 300,000 people.
"The Iranian government’s relentless assault on its Baha’i minority is an outrage that demands immediate action,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “We have updated the bipartisan resolution, which passed the House of Representatives last Congress, to send an even stronger, more unified message from the United States to the government of Iran condemning its grave human rights abuses. The United States and our allies must use every diplomatic tool available to hold Iran accountable and put a stop to this hate-fueled campaign once and for all.”
“The Iranian regime’s assault on the peaceful Baha'i community is abhorrent and must be condemned by leaders across the free world,” said Congressman Michael McCaul. “Through this resolution, the United States Congress is sending a clear message that we stand with the Baha’i community and will not tolerate Iran’s efforts to silence, intimidate, and persecute members of the Baha’i faith.”
Unlike some other religious minorities such as Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians, Iran's Baha'is have never been recognized by their government and are often persecuted by the Iranian regime. The regime often seizes personal property, denies Baha'i access to education and employment opportunities, and detains or imprisons Baha'is based solely on their religious beliefs.
The Iranian government’s reprehensible persecution of its Baha’i minority is a continued violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In addition to denouncing the Iranian government’s oppression of the Baha’i community, this resolution calls on Iran to immediately release imprisoned Baha’is and put an end to its state-sponsored hate campaign against them. The resolution encourages the U.S. president and secretary of state to condemn Iran’s continued rights violations and imposes sanctions on Iranian government officials who are responsible for those abuses.
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John Boozman (R-AR) are leading companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.
“The Iranian government has squeezed every freedom from members of the Baha’i community,” said Senator Ron Wyden. “Imprisoning and torturing Baha’is and taking away their rights is immoral, unjust, and just plain wrong. The Baha'i community in Iran deserves to freely practice their religion without fear of state-sponsored persecution. I will not stop making it loud and clear that we will not stand for any part of Iran's full-scale attack on the Baha'i community.”
“The persecution of members of the Baha’i community in Iran remains alarming and disturbing,” said Senator John Boozman. “As Americans, we are blessed with religious freedom and stand with members of the Baha’i faith in their pursuit of this fundamental principle. This resolution reaffirms our commitment to their cause and solidarity against efforts to repress minority religious expression.”
In addition to Reps. Schakowsky and McCaul, this resolution is cosponsored in the House of Representatives by Reps. Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Don Beyer (VA-08), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Rich McCormick (GA-07), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), and Rudy Yakym (IN-02).
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