U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Approves Iran Sanctions Bill for Human Rights Violations

The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has approved a sanctions bill against the Islamic Republic of Iran for human rights violations.

The bill, known as the Iran Human Rights Accountability and Hostage-taking Prevention Act, which was approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, Esfand 24, at the committee level, calls for intensified sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran in connection with human rights violations.

On Thursday, Ed Royce, the committee chairman, introduced four bills, one of which, if it passes the approval process and becomes law, would result in sanctions against Islamic Republic of Iran officials for widespread human rights violations. Another bill, concerning Syria, is indirectly related to Iranian officials and their support for Assad.

Ed Royce said during the Thursday morning session on Iran: “For years, the regime in Tehran has crushed all opposition with brutal and painful methods, including torture in Evin Prison and other prisons, as well as widespread executions. Yet very few officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been held accountable for human rights violations.”

He added: “The head of Iran’s judiciary was not specifically held accountable for human rights violations until December of last year.”

The House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman continued: “This regime, in an unprecedented extortion attempt, has imprisoned American citizens on false charges, including one who is in poor physical condition. It has been far too long since the Iranian regime has faced consequences for attacks on Americans and attacks on the Iranian people. The bill proposed today is for that purpose.”

In this session, Eliot Engel, the senior Democratic member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, also referred to the Iran sanctions bill for human rights violations and the Syria bill, and said: “I hope that besides Iran, another bill regarding further sanctions on Russia will be reviewed and approved so that it does not interfere in other countries’ elections.”

He added: “Pressure on Assad should only be lifted when he agrees to step down from power, prisoners are released, and Iran’s influence is reduced.”

Engel said: “The Iranian government holds our citizens hostage. Siamak and Baquer Namazi are examples of this hostage-taking. Our human rights bill imposes new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.”

Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican representative from California, said in his remarks: “The courageous people of Iran took to the streets, but we saw what the Iranian regime did. We must support them.”

Ted Deutch, a Democratic member of this committee from Florida in the House of Representatives, along with Mr. McCaul, proposed a bill to intensify human rights sanctions on Iran and criticized in detail the hostage-taking of American citizens and those with legal residence in America by the Tehran government. Referring to Bob Levinson, an American citizen who disappeared in Iran for years, he said former U.S. President Barack Obama said in January 2016 that Iran promised to intensify efforts to find Bob Levinson and cooperate with America. But last week, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman denied such a commitment.

Deutch called Tehran’s denial an outright lie and said we must expose this lying by the Iranian regime.

Ted Poe, a Republican representative from Texas, also said in his remarks: “The mullahs in Iran have not refrained from any human rights violations. The United States should support any regime change in Iran.”

Dan Donovan, a Republican representative from New York, also said: “Russia, Iran, and China continue to support Assad’s crimes, and there is no prospect for peace there.”

This representative from New York added: “The list of human rights violations by the Iranian regime is long. The Islamic Republic of Iran should not suppress its people, resort to violence and executions. As America, we should help the Iranian people establish a free and democratic government and system. We should also help them with internet freedom.”

Adriano Espaillat, a Democratic representative from New York who was also one of the designers of the bills presented today, said: “The bill we are reviewing is to pressure Iran to respect human rights like any other country. Iran shows no mercy to its people, and we must do something.”

Dina Titus, a Democratic representative from Nevada, also said: “I support the bill to sanction Iran for human rights violations because the Iranian people need help.”

Thomas Garrett, a Republican representative from Virginia, said in this session: “Recent instances of human rights violations have been mentioned, but we must remember those killed in Iran during the 1980s.”

He added: “No one remembers those killed from the People’s Mujahedin in the massacres of the 1980s. I hope my colleagues pay attention to this issue.”

Ed Royce, the committee chairman, in response to Mr. Garrett’s remarks, said: “In defense of the bill to sanction Iran for human rights violations, all mentioned cases have been referenced. It is not only the People’s Mujahedin who are victims of human rights violations in Iran; it addresses all of them.”

Now that the Foreign Affairs Committee has approved this bill, it must be approved by the House floor and sent to the Senate. In that case, it will become law and will be binding on the Trump administration.

Source: Voice of America