WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)—April 24, 2015. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Ted Deutch (FL-21) joined Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Robert Dold, Eliot Engel and Steven Chabot to introduce a resolution condemning the Iranian government’s persecution of the Baha’i minority. A similar bipartisan resolution has been introduced in the Senate. Schakowsky and Deutch released the following statement on the resolution:
“The 9th District of Illinois is home to the Baha’i House of Worship, which is the only one in North America,” Schakowsky said. “That’s part of the reason that many members of the Baha’i faith reside in our community. I have met with many of them and heard them recount how they were severely mistreated in Iran. The Baha’i community faces significant threats of violence and imprisonment on a day-to-day basis, suffer discrimination in the workplace, and more in Iran. That’s why it is so important to reintroduce this resolution calling for Iran to release Baha’i political prisoners and urging President Obama to speak out against human rights violations occurring in Iran.”
“Iran’s systematic persecution of the Baha’i faith must end. I am proud to introduce this resolution that calls out the Iranian regime’s egregious human rights violations,” Deutch said. “The world cannot turn a blind eye as Iran’s leaders continually repress the basic rights of its people. We must continue to call for the release of political prisoners and press for increased sanctions on those who perpetrate these horrific abuses.”
Source: Schakowsky.house.gov
