HRES 274 — Condemning the Government of Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.

274 IntroducedEngrossed in House (IH)](EH)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H.

RES.Res.

274 CondemningIn the GovernmentHouse of Iran'sRepresentatives, state-sponsoredU. persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.

_______________________________________________________________________S., INDecember THE12, HOUSE2018. OF REPRESENTATIVES April 25, 2017 Ms.

Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr.

Deutch, Mr.

Chabot, Mr.

Engel, Mr.

Smith of New Jersey, Ms.

Schakowsky, Ms.

Jenkins of Kansas, and Mr.

Schneider) submitted the following resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION Condemning the Government of Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.

Whereas, on December 17,19, 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/70/179),(A/RES/71/204), which ``[e]xpresse[d] serious concern about ongoing severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief and restrictions on the establishment of places of worship, as well as attacks against places of worship and burial, as well as other human rights violations, including but not limited to harassment, persecution and incitement to hatred that lead to violence against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities, including Christians, Jews, Sufi Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Zoroastrians and members of the Baha'i Faith and their defenders'';

Whereas sincein May 2008, the Government of Iran has imprisoned the 7 members of the former ad hoc leadership group of the Baha'i community in Iran, known as the Yaran-i-Iran, or ``friends of Iran''--Mrs.

Vahid Tizfahm--and these individuals were convicted of charges including ``spying for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, propaganda against the regime and spreading corruption on earth'' and sentenced to 20-year prison terms, the longest sentences given to any prisoner of conscience in Iran at that time,time nowand reportedlyone reducedremains toimprisoned; 10 years;

Whereas beginning in May 2011, officials of the Government of Iran in 4 cities conducted sweeping raids on the homes of dozens of individuals associated with the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (referred to in this Resolution as ``BIHE'') and arrested and detained several educators associated with BIHE, with 16 BIHE educators ultimately sentenced to 4- or 5-year prison terms, 74 of whom remain in prison;

Whereas there are currently 9082 Baha'is in prison in Iran;

(2) calls on the Government of Iran to immediately release the 7 imprisoned Baha'i leaders,leader, the 74 imprisoned Baha'i educators, and all other prisoners held solely on account of their religion;

<all>Attest:

Clerk.