U.S. House of Representatives Condemns ‘Organized State Persecution’ of Baha’is in Iran
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday, December 12, condemning organized state persecution of the Baha’i minority in Iran and the continued violation of international human rights conventions by the Islamic Republic government.
The resolution calls on U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. State Department to condemn the continued violations of human rights by the Iranian government and demands the immediate release of all prisoners detained solely because of their religion and faith.
The resolution also calls on the U.S. government to impose sanctions on officials who violate human rights in Iran.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican representative who introduced this resolution along with Ted Deutch, a Democratic representative, stated in a statement: We must vigorously enforce sanctions to stop human rights violations and bring those responsible for such actions to justice.
The statement also noted: Members of the Baha’i community are frequently persecuted and harassed by the Iranian government, and their rights are violated, including arbitrary detention, business restrictions, desecration of cemeteries and sacred sites.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen further stated: With today’s resolution, the U.S. Congress sends a clear message to those suffering in Iran and makes it clear that those responsible for this persecution will be held accountable.
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s constitution does not officially recognize Baha’is as a religious minority in Iran, and the security forces of the Islamic Republic continually target them for persecution, harassment, arrest, and desecrate their cemeteries.
Followers of the Baha’i faith are also prevented from pursuing higher education in Iranian universities, and practitioners of this faith are expelled from educational institutions and government agencies.
The U.S. State Department in its annual report on religious freedom in various countries worldwide stated in June of this year that Baha’is and Christian converts in Iran face suppression and discrimination.
International bodies, including the UN Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly criticized the Islamic Republic’s pressures on followers of various religions in Iran.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson has described the U.S. assessment of the demographic and religious conditions in various countries as “inaccurate and unrealistic.”
Source: Radio Farda
