April 25, 2017
Washington, U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa respectively, introduced H. Res. 274, condemning Iran’s human rights violations, particularly its persecution of its Baha’i minority, and urging the administration to impose sanctions against the Iranian regime for its human rights abuses.
Joining Deutch and Ros-Lehtinen in introducing the resolution were U.S. Reps. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), and Brad Schneider (D-IL). A companion resolution was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), John Boozman (R-AK), and Dick Durbin (D-IL).
“The Iranian regime perpetrates some of the most egregious human rights abuses against its own people, including denying them freedom of religion, persecuting minorities like the Baha’i, and imprisoning LGBT people,” said Ranking Member Deutch.
“The United States must continue to stand squarely against these violations of basic human rights, including by strictly applying and enforcing existing sanctions and strengthening punishments for offenders. This resolution sends a strong statement to the abusive regime that its treatment of the Baha’i, its unjust repression and persecution of Iranians, and its imprisonment of U.S. and other foreign nationals will be met with a strong response.”
