US House of Representatives condemns “organised state harassment” of Baha’is in Iran
The US House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday, December 11, condemning the government's organized persecution of the Baha'i minority in Iran, as well as the Islamic Republic's continued violations of international human rights conventions.
The resolution calls on US President Donald Trump and the US State Department to condemn the Iranian government's continued human rights violations and to demand the immediate release of all prisoners imprisoned solely for their religion.
The resolution also calls on the US government to impose sanctions on officials who violate human rights in Iran.
"We must vigorously enforce all sanctions to stop human rights violations and hold those responsible for such actions accountable," said Republican Representative Elina Ras-Lattinen, who co-sponsored the resolution with Democratic Representative Ted Deutsch, in a statement.
The statement also states: Members of the Baha'i community are often persecuted and their rights violated by the Iranian government, including arbitrary arrests, business bans, and the destruction of cemeteries and holy sites.
Elena Ross-Latin continued: "With today's resolution, the US Congress sends a strong message to those suffering in Iran and makes it clear that those responsible for this persecution will be held accountable."
The constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran does not recognize Baha'is as a religious minority in Iran, and the Islamic Republic's security forces consistently target them with harassment and arrest, and destroy their cemeteries.
Followers of the Baha'i faith in Iran are also prevented from studying at universities, and followers of this faith are expelled from educational centers and government offices.
In its annual report on religious freedom in various countries around the world, the US State Department said in June of this year that Baha'is and Christian converts in Iran face repression and discrimination.
International organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly criticized the Islamic Republic's pressure on followers of various religions in Iran.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has called the US assessment of the demographic and religious conditions of various countries "inaccurate and unrealistic."
Source: Radio Farda
