Condemning the Government of Iran's state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i minority in Iran and the continued violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

A House statement condemning Iran's treatment of the Baha'i minority — it urges sanctions but orders none.

The details

Most people here would see no change in daily life. This is a House statement, not a change in law. A simple House resolution never becomes law. The House has not voted on it. The resolution condemns the Iranian government for what it calls state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i faith. It also condemns what it calls Iran's ongoing breach of two human rights treaties Iran signed. It says Iran has killed or executed more than 200 Baha'i leaders since 1979. It says more than 10,000 Baha'is have lost government and university jobs. For these accounts it quotes the United Nations, the State Department, and Human Rights Watch. It asks Iran to free people held only for their faith. It asks Iran to end what it calls a state campaign of hate against Baha'is. It asks Iran to reverse rules that it says deny Baha'is and other faiths equal access to college, work, fair courts, and worship. It calls on the President and the Secretary of State to condemn Iran's record and demand those releases. It urges them to impose sanctions on Iranian officials and others it holds to blame for grave abuses. It notes that current law already grants those sanctions powers. Nothing in the resolution makes anyone act.