6

1

enactment to clarify that the civil and political rights

2

of all unrecognized minorities or communities, such

3

as the Bahá'ís, are to be respected regardless of

5

(6) urges the Government of Iran to allow the

6

reestablishment of Bahá'í institutions, to give indi

7

viduals the freedom to manifest their religion, and to

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of the the situation of the Bahá'ís, and calls for re

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(A) to assert that the United States re

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gards the human rights practices of the Govern

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ment of Iran, particularly its treatment of the Bahá'í community and other religious minori

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ties, as a significant factor in the foreign policy

H.L.C.

AMENDMENT TO H. CON. RES. 319

OFFERED BY Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Strike the sixth clause of the preamble and insert

the following:

Whereas for the past three years the United Nations

Commission on Human Rights has failed to pass a resolution condemning human rights abuses in Iran;

Strike the seventh clause of the preamble and insert

the following:

Whereas the failure of the United Nations Commission

on Human Rights to pass a resolution regarding human rights abuses in Iran may erroneously suggest that the Government of Iran has improved its human rights record and has stopped its policy to systematically destroy the Bahai community;

In the eighth clause of the preamble, strike “to adopt the United Nations resolution" and insert "to

adopt a United Nations Commission on Human Rights

resolution”.

In the tenth clause of the preamble, strike "once it

becomes known that they are Bahais".

Page 5, beginning on line 25, strike "making a legis

lative enactment to clarify” and insert "legally clari

fying”.

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.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 11, 2004 Ms. Ros-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. ACKERMAN,

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. PENCE, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. BERMAN, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Ms. BERKLEY, and Mr. LANTOS) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the con

tinuing gross violations of human rights and civil liberties of the Syrian people by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Whereas the Syrian Arab Republic is governed by an authori

tarian regime which, according to the 2003 Department of State Report on Human Rights Practices, continues to commit serious human rights abuses, including “the use

of torture” and “arbitrary arrest and detention”; Whereas hundreds of political prisoners in Syria have never

been tried for any offense, in violation of Article 9 of the

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Universal Declaration of Human Rights (General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of December 10, 1948);

Whereas the 2003 Department of State Human Rights Re

port states that Syria "significantly restricts freedom of speech and of the press”, that "freedom of assembly does not exist under the law”, and that "the Government restricted freedom of association”;

Whereas a recent press law enacted in September 2001 per

mits Syria to arbitrarily deny or revoke publishing licenses for such vague reasons as “related to the public interest”, and compels privately owned media sources to

submit all material to government censors for clearance; Whereas Syrian authorities have arrested two journalists for

writing articles published in Lebanese newspapers criticizing Syria;

Whereas foreign media correspondents have been expelled

from Syria for reporting that runs contrary to what is officially sanctioned by Syria;

Whereas Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights declares: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.";

Whereas Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.”;

Whereas Human Rights Watch reports that Syria maintains

its “pressure on the country's fragile human rights movement through a combination of intimidation, criminal prosecution of leading activists, and imprisonment”;