Nancy Kassebaum: “the Senate today will adopt legislation condemning Iran's persecution of the Baha'i community. We have taken similar…”

“the Senate today will adopt legislation condemning Iran's persecution of the Baha'i community. We have taken similar action in the past, and I regret that our continued vigilance on this matter is required. We choose today to adopt this legislation in remembrance of a great tragedy for the Baha'i community and for all who value human rights and religious freedom. Thirteen years ago this month, Iranian religious officials executed, by hanging, 10 Baha'i women--including 3 teenage girls--in the city of Shiraz. This killing of innocent women and children came amid a series of Baha'i executions during the first half of 1983. At the time, President Reagan had expressed America's alarm at the religious persecution of the Baha'is in Iran and had called upon the Iranian leadership to spare the lives of those Baha'is condemned to death in Shiraz. The Iranian response to this plea was to carry out without hesitation the schedule of June executions. We know that those men, women, and children were executed not for any crimes but for their religious beliefs. We also know the persecution continues to this day in many forms, both great and small. Thirty-nine other Senators have joined with me in sponsoring this legislation, and the Senate today will unanimously adopt an identical resolution already passed by the House of Representatives. By today's action, the U.S. Senate once again will make clear to all who will listen: ``We have not forgotten.''”