Florida Representatives Push Condemnation of Iran

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman of the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., the ranking Democrat, teamed up on Thursday to bring out a bill condemning Iran for continued violations of the International Covenant on Human Rights and persecution of the Bahais.

The Florida representatives were joined by U.S. Reps. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, Robert Dold, R-Ill., Eliot Engel, D-NY, and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill. The Senate counterpart is backed by Illinois two senators--Democrat Dick Durbin and Republican Mark Kirk--U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oreg., and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is running for the Republican presidential nomination.

The state-sponsored persecution of Irans Bahai minority is a disturbing reminder of the Iranian regimes abysmal human rights record, Ros-Lehtinen said on Thursday. The Iranian regime does not tolerate dissent and cracks down on anyone who dares to express themselves freely, beating and jailing journalists, political opposition, and ethnic and religious minorities. Bahais in Iran are frequent targets of a regime who imprisons their leaders, destroys their cemeteries, and has created a systematic culture of discrimination that prevents practitioners from accessing employment, education, and social services.

Despite the administrations attempts to brand Rouhani as a moderate and potential ally, executions under this tyrant have increased and the human rights situation has worsened, Ros-Lehtinen added. I am proud to join with my colleagues in the House and Senate in introducing this bipartisan resolution condemning the Iranian regimes persecution of Bahais and it should serve as a reminder that we should not be fooled into thinking that the Iranian regime is made up of anyone other than ruthless thugs who will oppress, lie, and kill if they have to in order to stay in power.