U.S. House of Representatives Passes Resolution Condemning the Persecution of Baha’is in Iran

WASHINGTON, August 1 2008 – The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution condemning the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran. H. RES. 1008 is the tenth congressional resolution since 1982 on the Baha’is in Iran.

“The passing of this resolution is particularly timely given the escalation of attacks against the Baha’is in Iran in recent months,” said Ms. Kit Bigelow, Director of External Affairs for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the U.S. “This includes a series of arson attacks on the homes and vehicles of Baha’is, and the arrests in March and May of the seven members of Iran’s national Baha’i coordinating group. They are being held in Evin Prison in Tehran without any charges and without access to an attorney or to their families.”

The congressional resolution condemns the government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of Baha’is; calls on Iran’s Parliament to reject a proposed Islamic penal code, and calls on the Iranian regime to immediately release ten imprisoned Baha’is.

“This is government-sponsored persecution,” said Rep. Mark Kirk (IL-10), who introduced the resolution. “And we in the Congress should not be silent as Iran sets up the mechanism to ethnically cleanse its Baha’i minority, totaling over 250,000 human beings.”

“It sends a strong signal that Congress will continue to watch closely the treatment of the Baha’i people in Iran,” said Rep Howard L. Berman (CA-28), who is the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and co-sponsored the resolution.

“We are deeply grateful that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed this resolution, which speaks up for those who are unable to have their voices heard in their homeland. We look forward to the day when the Iranian Baha’is will have their human rights restored and be able to contribute as equal citizens to the advancement of the country and the global community which they love,” said Ms. Kit Bigelow.

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There are 2 versions of Bill number H. Res. 1008 for the 110th Congress

1. Condemning the persecution of Baha’is in Iran. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.1008.IH]
2. Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, and 2006, Congress declared that it deplored the religious persecution by the Government of Iran of the Baha’i community and… (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)[H.RES.1008.EH]



Other notable quotes from the Congressional record:

Rep. Mark Kirk (IL-10):

“For the life of me, I do not understand why they attack Baha’is. The Baha’i faith teaches that Moses and Jesus and Mohammed are all respected teachers who added to the faith of our times. The Baha’is embody acceptance and tolerance and accommodation. They have a faith which renders them incapable of being a threat to a government, so it is up to us to speak for them. It’s up to us to hold up a mirror to the Iranian Government to show it as a vicious and cruel state.”

“We have seen this movie before, but they have worn other uniforms in other countries. It is my hope that we can make this call to action to join with the European Parliament. We can help change the ending of this flick so that hundreds of thousands of Baha’is may one day be able to sleep well in future days knowing that the great democracies from across the seas in Europe and America watch over them.”



Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH):

“Totalitarian regimes everywhere, hiding behind the false excuse of state sovereignty, are eager to combat any progress in human rights and freedoms and to expand their hegemony and repression as far as others allow them to do. Therefore, the United States must continue to make clear, in both word and deed, that the spread of religious freedom and human rights worldwide is not merely an ideal, but an imperative.”



Rep. Frank R. Wolf (VA-10)

“I am pleased to join a bipartisan group of my colleagues as a cosponsor of this important resolution, and I hope its passage will send a strong message to the Iranian government that the United States Congress will always stand in solidarity with the persecuted people of the world.”



The full congressional record from the House floor can be accessed here



The press release from Congressman Kirk’s office can be accessed here

Congressman Wolf’s statement on the House floor can be accessed here.