H.Res. 147 — Introduced in House

IV 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 147 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 10, 2013 Mr. Cassidy (for himself, Mr. Labrador, Mr. Waxman, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Harris, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Aderholt, Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. McHenry, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Garrett, Mr. Jones, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Roskam, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Fincher, Mr. Holt, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Benishek, Mr. Stockman, Mr. Huelskamp, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Hultgren, Mr. Bentivolio, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Bridenstine, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Schock, Mr. Latta, Mr. Nunnelee, Mr. Burgess, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Webster of Florida, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Palazzo, Mr. Scalise, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Olson, Mrs. Lummis, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Long, and Mr. Wolf) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Calling for the release of United States citizen Saeed Abedini and condemning the Government of Iran for its persecution of religious minorities. Whereas Saeed Abedini has been sentenced to 8 years in prison in Iran after being tried for his religious beliefs and convicted for undermining the Government of Iran; Whereas Iran is a member of the United Nations and a signatory of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Whereas Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance; Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights lists Iran as one of the countries that remains a chronic and systematic violator of religious freedom; and Whereas in October 2012, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran has stated that a wide range of human rights violations, including illegal limits on freedom of expression, failures of legal due process, attacks on freedom of religion, and the wrongful imprisonment of children: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) condemns the Government of Iran for its persecution of religious minorities, including Saeed Abedini; (2) calls on the Government of Iran to release Saeed Abedini to the United States; and (3) calls on the United States Government to work aggressively for the quick release of Saeed Abedini by designating additional Iranian officials, as appropriate, for human rights abuses pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010.