Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the brave women and men in Iran who are risking their lives to speak out against the Iranian regime's human rights abuses. Today marks 131 days of ongoing protests in Iran. It has been 131 days since Mahsa Amini was laid to rest after being harassed, arrested, and ultimately killed by Iran's so-called morality police for simply wearing her hijab incorrectly. Since her murder, the people of Iran--women and men alike--have taken to the streets in more than 133 cities across the country to demand their basic rights and freedoms be respected. For nearly 19 weeks, protesters have gone out into the streets making their voices heard and demanding to be treated with dignity. But instead of listening, the Iranian regime is brutally cracking down on its own citizens, gunning down protesters, arresting people en masse, and resorting to torture and sexual violence. Since the protests began, human rights activists in Iran have reported that nearly 20,000 people have been detained and more than 500 people have been killed, including children. What is more, the Iranian regime has also executed four protesters, with many more being sentenced for crimes that carry the death penalty. These brutal human rights abuses must stop immediately. The international community must stand with the Iranian people and against this violent suppression.…”