[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1397 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1397
Condemning the Government of Iran's torture and murder of Mahsa Amini
and its crackdown on protesters seeking basic human rights, and
supporting the protesters in their demands for freedom.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 28, 2022
Mrs. Kim of California (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Salazar, and
Ms. Spanberger) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning the Government of Iran's torture and murder of Mahsa Amini
and its crackdown on protesters seeking basic human rights, and
supporting the protesters in their demands for freedom.
Whereas the 1979 revolution led to the establishment of an Islamic Republic
based on a system of Sharia law, which particularly discriminates
heavily against women;
Whereas the Iranian regime, both in law and practice, continues to rule by
violence and repression, in sharp contrast with the principles outlined
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran remains party;
Whereas Iran's discriminatory legal code established a strict dress code that
requires all women to wear a hijab in public;
Whereas Article 638 of the Iranian Islamic Penal Code states: ``Anyone in public
places and roads who openly commits a sinful act, in addition to the
punishment provided for the act, shall be sentenced to two months'
imprisonment or up to 74 lashes.'';
Whereas Iran's so-called ``Morality Police'', a component of Iran's Law
Enforcement Forces (LEF), is responsible for enforcement of Iran's
Sharia law;
Whereas, on September 13, 2022, Iran's so-called ``Morality Police'' arrested
22-year-old Mahsa Amini for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly and
sent her to a regime-run ``reeducation center'';
Whereas after Mahsa Amini was arrested and taken to police headquarters, she was
transferred to the hospital in a coma and died 3 days later from
internal injuries;
Whereas the LEF claims that Mahsa Amini died from a heart ailment, though her
family says she did not suffer from any pre-existing health conditions,
and the LEF refused to let Mahsa Amini's father see her body;
Whereas the LEF denies accusations of wrongful death and of torture of Mahsa
Amini;
Whereas, on September 17, 2022, thousands of peaceful protesters took to the
streets to demand accountability for Mahsa Amini's wrongful death and
Iran's discrimination against women;
Whereas during these peaceful protests, Iranian women burned their hijabs and
cut their hair to protest mandatory veiling and the Iranian regime's
longstanding discrimination against women;
Whereas, on September 17, 2022, Iranian security forces, including the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unlawfully fired on peaceful
protesters, and killed women, teenagers, and men;
Whereas, since September 17, 2022, Iranian security forces continue violently
cracking down and killing protesters;
Whereas, on September 26, 2022, Iranian state media reported 41 people killed in
the protests, while other reports suggest the number of dead to be
several times higher; and
Whereas, on September 22, 2022, the Department of the Treasury's Office of
Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the so-called ``Morality
Police'' and 7 senior security and law enforcement officials,
responsible for the use of repressive and violent tactics against
peaceful protests in Iran: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the Iranian regime's torture and murder of
Mahsa Amini;
(2) condemns the Iranian regime's laws that discriminate
against women;
(3) condemns the Iranian regime's use of violence and
suppression against women;
(4) condemns the Iranian regime's use of violence against
those peacefully protesting the government and seeking freedom;
(5) recognizes the right to self-determination for the
Iranian people struggling to establish a democratic, secular,
and nonnuclear Republic of Iran;
(6) expresses support for the tens of thousands of
protesters taking to the streets to demand freedom and basic
human rights;
(7) calls on the Secretary of the Treasury to continue
sanctioning those responsible for the violent suppression of
peaceful protests, including regime officials implicated in the
murder of Mahsa Amini;
(8) calls on the Secretary of State to use the voice and
vote of the United States in international organizations to
urge the adoption of resolutions condemning the Government of
Iran's murder of Mahsa Amini;
(9) calls on the Secretary of State to use the diplomatic
resources necessary to ensure partners and allies of the United
States sanction Iran's so-called ``Morality Police'', as well
as all other repressive agencies such as the Ministry of
Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC), for gross violations of internationally
recognized human rights; and
(10) calls on the Secretary of State to unequivocally
express support for the Iranian people and their desire for a
free, fair, and democratic Iran.
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