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CONCERN REGARDING THE REPRESSION OF THE RELIGIOUS, FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE IRANIAN BAHÁ'Í COMMUNITY BY THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN; CONCERN REGARDING THE GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OF THE SYRIAN PEOPLE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC; SUPPORT OF FULL MEMBERSHIP OF ISRAEL IN THE WEOG AT THE U.N.; AND SUPPORT FOR THE ACCESSION OF ISRAEL TO THE OECD

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2004

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST
AND CENTRAL ASIA,

COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS,

Washington, DC.

The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 2 o'clock p.m. in Room 2200, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Joseph R. Pitts presiding.

Mr. PITTS. The Subcommittee will come to order. We are convening to mark up the following resolutions: H. Con. Res. 319, expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing repression of the religious freedom and human rights of the Iranian Bahá'í community by the Government of Iran; H. Con. Res. 363, expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing gross violations of human rights and civil liberties of the Syrian people by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic; H. Res. 615, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of full membership of Israel in the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) at the United Nations; and H. Res. 617, expressing support for the accession of Israel to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

It is my understanding that these resolutions are completely noncontroversial. Accordingly, we will consider them en bloc. Without objection, the four resolutions will be favorably reported to the Full Committee, and the amendments which the Members have before them will be deemed adopted. Any Member may insert a statement in the record.

[The resolutions and amendments referred to follow:]

(1)

IV

108TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

H. CON. RES. 319

Expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing repression of the religious freedom and human rights of the Iranian Bahá'í community by the Government of Iran.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 30, 2003

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. LANTOS, and Mr. SMITH of New Jersey) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing repression of the religious freedom and human rights of the Iranian Bahá'í community by the Government of Iran.

Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, and in 2000, Congress, by concurrent resolution, declared that it holds the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all its nationals, including members of the Bahá'í Faith;

Whereas the followers of Bahá'u'lláh, who constitute the largest religious minority in Iran, are not recognized under the Iranian Constitution and are deprived thereby of adequate legal protection;

2

Whereas Congress has deplored the Government of Iran's persecution of the Bahá'í community and has condemned Iran's execution of more than 200 Bahá'í and the imprisonment of thousands of others solely on account of their religious beliefs;

Whereas on February 22, 1993, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights published a confidential Iranian Government document revealing that these repressive actions are part of a deliberate policy to destroy the Bahá'í community, a deliberate policy that was designed and approved by the highest officials in the Iranian Government;

Whereas in 2002, when the United States was not a member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the resolution against human rights abuses in Iran failed to pass for the first time in 17 consecutive years;

Whereas in 2003, a resolution against human rights abuses in Iran was not introduced for a vote at the meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights;

Whereas the Government of Iran is now free to continue its systematic and deliberate policy to destroy the Bahá'í community in the absence of international monitors;

Whereas the use of harassment, in the form of arrests, suspended sentences, and short-term detentions against the Iranian Bahá'ís have increased since the failure in 2002 to adopt the United Nations resolution against human rights abuses in Iran;

Whereas four Bahá'ís remain imprisoned in Iran solely because of their religious beliefs, 1 serving a 4-year sentence and another a life sentence for apostasy from

⚫HCON 319 IH

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