117th CONGRESS
2d Session

H. RES. 1397

Condemning the Government of Iran’s torture and murder of Mahsa Amini and its crackdown on protesters seeking basic human rights, and supporting the protesters in their demands for freedom.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 28, 2022

Mrs. Kim of California (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Salazar, and Ms. Spanberger) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

RESOLUTION

Condemning the Government of Iran’s torture and murder of Mahsa Amini and its crackdown on protesters seeking basic human rights, and supporting the protesters in their demands for freedom.
Whereas the 1979 revolution led to the establishment of an Islamic Republic based on a system of Sharia law, which particularly discriminates heavily against women;

Whereas the Iranian regime, both in law and practice, continues to rule by violence and repression, in sharp contrast with the principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran remains party;

Whereas Iran’s discriminatory legal code established a strict dress code that requires all women to wear a hijab in public;

Whereas Article 638 of the Iranian Islamic Penal Code states: “Anyone in public places and roads who openly commits a sinful act, in addition to the punishment provided for the act, shall be sentenced to two months’ imprisonment or up to 74 lashes.”;

Whereas Iran’s so-called “Morality Police”, a component of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), is responsible for enforcement of Iran’s Sharia law;

Whereas, on September 13, 2022, Iran’s so-called “Morality Police” arrested 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly and sent her to a regime-run “reeducation center”;

Whereas after Mahsa Amini was arrested and taken to police headquarters, she was transferred to the hospital in a coma and died 3 days later from internal injuries;

Whereas the LEF claims that Mahsa Amini died from a heart ailment, though her family says she did not suffer from any pre-existing health conditions, and the LEF refused to let Mahsa Amini’s father see her body;

Whereas the LEF denies accusations of wrongful death and of torture of Mahsa Amini;

Whereas, on September 17, 2022, thousands of peaceful protesters took to the streets to demand accountability for Mahsa Amini’s wrongful death and Iran’s discrimination against women;

Whereas during these peaceful protests, Iranian women burned their hijabs and cut their hair to protest mandatory veiling and the Iranian regime’s longstanding discrimination against women;

Whereas, on September 17, 2022, Iranian security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unlawfully fired on peaceful protesters, and killed women, teenagers, and men;

Whereas, since September 17, 2022, Iranian security forces continue violently cracking down and killing protesters;

Whereas, on September 26, 2022, Iranian state media reported 41 people killed in the protests, while other reports suggest the number of dead to be several times higher; and

Whereas, on September 22, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the so-called “Morality Police” and 7 senior security and law enforcement officials, responsible for the use of repressive and violent tactics against peaceful protests in Iran: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) condemns the Iranian regime’s torture and murder of Mahsa Amini;
(2) condemns the Iranian regime’s laws that discriminate against women;
(3) condemns the Iranian regime’s use of violence and suppression against women;
(4) condemns the Iranian regime’s use of violence against those peacefully protesting the government and seeking freedom;
(5) recognizes the right to self-determination for the Iranian people struggling to establish a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear Republic of Iran;
(6) expresses support for the tens of thousands of protesters taking to the streets to demand freedom and basic human rights;
(7) calls on the Secretary of the Treasury to continue sanctioning those responsible for the violent suppression of peaceful protests, including regime officials implicated in the murder of Mahsa Amini;
(8) calls on the Secretary of State to use the voice and vote of the United States in international organizations to urge the adoption of resolutions condemning the Government of Iran’s murder of Mahsa Amini;
(9) calls on the Secretary of State to use the diplomatic resources necessary to ensure partners and allies of the United States sanction Iran’s so-called “Morality Police”, as well as all other repressive agencies such as the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights; and
(10) calls on the Secretary of State to unequivocally express support for the Iranian people and their desire for a free, fair, and democratic Iran.