Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 134) condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 134 Whereas, in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2006, 2008, and 2009, Congress declared that it deplored the religious persecution by the Government of Iran of the Baha'i community and would hold the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all Iranian nationals, including members of the Baha'i faith; Whereas the Department of State 2011 International Religious Freedom Report stated that the Government of Iran ``prohibits Baha'is from teaching and practicing their faith and subjects them to many forms of discrimination that followers of other religions do not face'' and that ``Baha'is are barred from all leadership positions in the government and military''; Whereas the Department of State 2011 International Religious Freedom Report stated, ``Baha'is are banned from the social pension system. In addition, Baha'is are regularly denied compensation for injury or criminal victimization and the right to inherit property.…”